As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 12, 2021
1933 Act File No. 333-255412
1940 Act File No. 811-23656
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-2
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REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 |
[X] |
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and
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 Amendment No. 2 |
[X] |
MVP Private
Markets Fund
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
9 Old Kings Highway South
Darien, Connecticut 06820
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(203) 662-3456
(Registrant’s Telephone Number)
Daniel Dwyer
Portfolio Advisors, LLC
9 Old Kings Highway South
Darien, Connecticut 06820
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
Copy to:
Joshua B. Deringer, Esq.
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
One Logan Square, Ste. 2000
Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996
215-988-2700
APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING:
AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE AFTER THE DATE ON WHICH THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES EFFECTIVE
| [ ] | Check box if the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans. |
| [X] | Check box if any securities being registered on this Form will be offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”), other than securities offered in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan. |
| [ ] | Check box if this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction A.2 or a post-effective amendment thereto. |
| [ ] | Check box if this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction B or a post-effective amendment thereto that will become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act. | |
| [ ] | Check box if this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction B to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act. |
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)
| [X] | when declared effective pursuant to Section 8(c) of the Securities Act |
If appropriate, check the following box:
| [ ] | This [post-effective] amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed [post-effective amendment] [registration statement]. |
| [ ] | This Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is: _________. |
| [ ] | This Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is: ________. |
| [ ] | This Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is: ____________. |
Check each box that appropriately characterizes the Registrant:
| [X] | Registered Closed-End Fund (closed-end company that is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“Investment Company Act”)). |
| [ ] | Business Development Company (closed-end company that intends or has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act). |
| [ ] | Interval Fund (Registered Closed-End Fund or a Business Development Company that makes periodic repurchase offers under Rule 23c-3 under the Investment Company Act). |
| [ ] | A.2 Qualified (qualified to register securities pursuant to General Instruction A.2 of this Form).
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| [ ] | Well-Known Seasoned Issuer (as defined by Rule 405 under the Securities Act). |
| [ ] | Emerging Growth Company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”). |
| [ ] | If an Emerging Growth Company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act. |
| [X] | New Registrant (registered or regulated under the Investment Company Act for less than 12 calendar months preceding this filing). |
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
| TITLE OF SECURITIES BEING REGISTERED | PROPOSED MAXIMUM AGGREGATE OFFERING PRICE(1) | AMOUNT OF REGISTRATION FEE |
| Shares of Beneficial Interest | $1,000,000,000 | $92,700.00(2) |
| (1) | Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457 under the Securities Act of 1933. |
| (2) | $109.10 has been previously paid. |
THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE.
The information in this Prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This Prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED NOVEMBER 12, 2021
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
MVP Private Markets Fund
Class A Shares
Class I Shares
Class D Shares
MVP Private Markets Fund (the “Fund”) is a newly organized Delaware statutory trust that is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), as a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund’s investment objective will be to generate long-term capital appreciation by investing in a diversified portfolio of private market investments. The Fund will primarily target private equity investments, and to a lesser extent private credit investments, that focus on mid-sized companies in the United States. The Fund cannot guarantee that it will meet its investment objective. Investing in the Fund involves a high degree of risk. See “GENERAL RISKS,” “INVESTMENT RELATED RISKS,” “BUSINESS AND STRUCTURE RELATED RISKS,” “MANAGEMENT RELATED RISKS,” and “LIMITS OF RISKS DISCLOSURE” beginning on page 28.
| Class A Shares | Class I Shares | Class D Shares | Total | |
| Public Offering Price(1) | Current Net Asset Value | Current Net Asset Value | Current Net Asset Value | $1,000,000,000 |
| Sales Load(2) | 3.50% | None | 3.50% | $1,000,000,000 |
| Proceeds to the Fund (Before Expenses)(3) | Current Net Asset Value, less applicable Sales Charge | Current Net Asset Value | Current Net Asset Value, less applicable Sales Charge | Up to $1,000,000,000 |
| (1) | ALPS Distributors, Inc. acts as the principal underwriter of the Fund’s Shares on a best-efforts basis. Generally, the stated minimum investment by an investor in the Fund is $50,000 with respect to Class A Shares, $5,000,000 with respect to Class I Shares and $50,000 with respect to Class D Shares, which stated minimums may be reduced for certain investors. |
| (2) | Investments in Class A Shares and Class D Shares of the Fund are sold subject to a sales charge of up to 3.50% of the investment. For some investors, the sales charge may be waived or reduced (in whole or in part). The full amount of sales charge may be reallowed to brokers or dealers participating in the offering. Your financial intermediary may impose additional charges when you purchase shares of the Fund. |
| (3) | Assumes all shares currently registered are sold in the offering. Shares will be offered in a continuous offering at the Fund’s then current net asset value, plus any applicable sales load, as described herein. The Fund will bear its organizational costs of approximately $270,958. The Fund has additionally incurred offering costs of approximately $26,308. The Fund’s offering costs, whether borne by Portfolio Advisors, LLC (the “Adviser”) or the Fund, are being capitalized and amortized over the 12-month period beginning on the Initial Closing Date (as defined below). The Fund will also bear certain ongoing offering costs associated with the Fund’s continuous offering of Shares. See “FUND EXPENSES.” |
This prospectus (the “Prospectus”) applies to the offering of three separate classes of shares of beneficial interests (“Shares”) in the Fund, designated as Class A Shares, Class I Shares and Class D Shares. The Fund’s Shares will generally be offered on the first business day of each month at the net asset value per Share on that day. No person who is admitted as a shareholder of the Fund (a “Shareholder”) will have the right to require the Fund to redeem its Shares. This Prospectus is not an offer to sell Shares and is not soliciting an offer to buy Shares in any state or jurisdiction where such offer or sale is not permitted. Investments in the Fund may be made only by “Eligible Investors” as defined herein. See “ELIGIBLE INVESTORS.”
Simultaneous with the commencement of the Fund’s operations (“Commencement of Operations”), MVP Private Markets, L.P. (the “Predecessor Fund”), reorganized with and transferred substantially all its portfolio securities into the Fund. The Predecessor Fund maintains an investment objective and pursues investment strategies that are substantially similar to those of the Fund. The Fund and the Predecessor Fund share the same investment adviser and portfolio managers.
If you purchase Shares of the Fund, you will become bound by the terms and conditions of the agreement and declaration of trust of the Fund (the “Agreement and Declaration of Trust”). A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust is attached as Appendix A to this Prospectus.
Shares are speculative and illiquid securities involving substantial risk of loss.
| · | Shares are not listed on any securities exchange and it is not anticipated that a secondary market for Shares will develop. |
| · | Shares are subject to substantial restrictions on transferability and resale and may not be transferred or resold except as permitted under the Agreement and Declaration of Trust. Although the Fund may offer to repurchase Shares from time to time, Shares will not be redeemable at a Shareholder’s option nor will they be exchangeable for Shares or shares of any other fund. As a result, an investor may not be able to sell or otherwise liquidate his or her Shares. |
| · | Shares are appropriate only for those investors who can tolerate a high degree of risk and do not require a liquid investment and for whom an investment in the Fund does not constitute a complete investment program. |
There are risks associated with the Fund’s distribution sources.
| · | The amount of distributions that the Fund may pay, if any, is uncertain. |
| · | The Fund may pay distributions in significant part from sources that may not be available in the future and that are unrelated to the Fund’s performance, such as offering proceeds, borrowings, and amounts from the Fund’s affiliates that are subject to repayment by investors. |
No Prior History. The Fund has no operating history and the shares have no history of public trading.
This Prospectus concisely provides information that you should know about the Fund before investing. You are advised to read this Prospectus carefully and to retain it for future reference. Additional information about the Fund, including the Fund’s statement of additional information (the “SAI”), dated [ ], 2021, has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). You can request a copy of the SAI and annual and semi-annual reports of the Fund without charge by writing to the Fund, c/o ALPS Fund Services, Inc. 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, CO 80203, or by calling the Fund toll-free at 844-663-0164. The SAI is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus in its entirety. You can obtain the SAI, and other information about the Fund, on the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov). The address of the SEC’s internet site is provided solely for the information of prospective investors and is not intended to be an active link.
You should not construe the contents of this Prospectus as legal, tax or financial advice. You should consult with your own professional advisers as to legal, tax, financial, or other matters relevant to the suitability of an investment in the Fund.
You should rely only on the information contained in this Prospectus and the SAI. The Fund has not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information provided by this Prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date shown below. Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this Prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
THE FUND’S PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER IS ALPS Distributors, Inc.
As permitted by SEC regulations, paper copies of the Fund’s shareholder reports will not be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on a website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.
If you hold shares at the Fund’s transfer agent, you may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Fund electronically by contacting the Fund, c/o c/o ALPS Fund Services, Inc. 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, CO 80203, or by calling toll-free at 844-663-0164. If you own your shares through a financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank), you must contact your financial intermediary. You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge.
You can inform the Fund or your financial intermediary, as applicable, that you wish to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports by contacting them directly. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to the Fund and all funds held through your financial intermediary, as applicable.
The date of this Prospectus is [ ], 2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | |
| SUMMARY | 1 |
| SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES | 8 |
| USE OF PROCEEDS | 10 |
| INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND STRATEGIES | 10 |
| PRIVATE MARKETS OVERVIEW | 11 |
| INVESTMENT PROCESS | 13 |
| INVESTMENT POLICIES | 13 |
| RISK FACTORS | 15 |
| BUSINESS AND STRUCTURE RELATED RISKS | 15 |
| MANAGEMENT RELATED RISKS | 18 |
| INVESTMENT RELATED RISKS | 20 |
| RISKS SPECIFIC TO PORTFOLIO FUNDS | 22 |
| RISKS SPECIFIC TO SECONDARY INVESTMENTS | 25 |
| TAX RELATED RISKS | 26 |
| GENERAL RISKS | 27 |
| LIMITS OF RISKS DISCLOSURE | 28 |
| MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND | 28 |
| INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FEE | 31 |
| DISTRIBUTOR | 32 |
| ADMINISTRATION | 33 |
| CUSTODIAN | 33 |
| FUND EXPENSES | 34 |
| VOTING | 35 |
| CONFLICTS OF INTEREST | 35 |
| DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS | 37 |
| DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN | 37 |
| OUTSTANDING SECURITIES | 38 |
| REPURCHASES OF SHARES | 38 |
| TRANSFERS OF SHARES | 41 |
| CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE; VALUATION | 42 |
| CERTAIN TAX CONSIDERATIONS | 43 |
| ERISA CONSIDERATIONS | 49 |
| ELIGIBLE INVESTORS | 50 |
| DESCRIPTION OF SHARES | 50 |
| PURCHASING SHARES | 50 |
| ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | 51 |
| SUMMARY OF THE AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST | 52 |
| REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS | 54 |
| FISCAL YEAR | 54 |
| INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM; LEGAL COUNSEL | 54 |
| INQUIRIES | 54 |
| APPENDIX A | A-1 |
CAUTIONARY NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Prospectus and the accompanying SAI contain “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements can be identified by the words “may,” “will,” “intend,” “expect,” “continue,” and similar terms and the negative of such terms. By their nature, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements because of various risks and uncertainties, including the factors set forth in the section headed “Risk Factors” in this Prospectus and elsewhere in the Prospectus and the accompanying SAI.
You should consider carefully the discussions of risks and uncertainties in the “Risk Factors” section in this Prospectus. The forward-looking statements contained in this Prospectus and the accompanying SAI are based on information available to the Fund on the date of such documents. Except for ongoing obligations under the federal securities laws, the Adviser does not intend, and does not undertake any obligation, to update any forward-looking statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this Prospectus and the accompanying SAI are excluded from the safe harbor protection provided by section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”).
SUMMARY
This is only a summary and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in the Fund. Before investing in the Fund, you should carefully read the more detailed information appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus, the SAI, and the Agreement and Declaration of Trust.
| The Fund |
The Fund is a newly organized Delaware statutory trust that is registered under the Investment Company Act as a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund was organized as a Delaware trust on April 7, 2021.
The Fund is an appropriate investment only for those investors who can tolerate a high degree of risk and do not require a liquid investment.
Simultaneous with the commencement of the Fund’s operations (“Commencement of Operations”), MVP Private Markets, L.P. (the “Predecessor Fund”), reorganized with and transferred substantially all its portfolio securities into the Fund. The Predecessor Fund maintains an investment objective and pursues investment strategies that are substantially similar to those of the Fund. The Fund and the Predecessor Fund share the same investment adviser and portfolio managers.
The Fund will offer three separate classes of shares of beneficial interest (“Shares”) designated as Class A Shares, Class I Shares and Class D Shares. Each class of Shares is subject to different fees and expenses. The Fund may offer additional classes of Shares in the future. The Fund has received an exemptive order from the SEC with respect to the Fund’s multi-class structure.
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| Investment Objective and Strategies |
The Fund’s investment objective is to generate long-term capital appreciation by investing in a diversified portfolio of private market investments, with a focus on investments in mid-sized companies in the United States.
The Fund will seek to achieve its investment objective through a mix of investments (the “Fund Investments”) that is predominantly comprised of private equity, and to a lesser extent private credit. Fund Investments are expected to primarily consist of: · direct investments in the equity or debt of target companies and other private assets (i.e. assets that are not traded on a public securities exchange) (“Direct Investments”), typically together with third-party managers (“Sponsors”); · purchases of existing interests in private equity or private credit funds (“Portfolio Funds”) and other private assets managed by Sponsors (“Secondary Investments”); · subscriptions for new interests in Portfolio Funds (“Primary Investments”); and · short-term and liquid investments, including money market funds, short term treasuries, and/or other liquid investment vehicles.
Subject to applicable law and regulation, the Fund may gain exposure to Fund Investments indirectly through pooled vehicles or special purpose vehicles managed by the Adviser, any of its affiliates or third parties.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund intends to invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in “Private Market Assets”. For purposes of this policy, Private Market Assets include Direct Investments, Portfolio Funds, Secondary Investments, and Primary Investments.
The Fund will principally target Fund Investments within the United States, but may, directly or indirectly, make investments outside of the United States. It is expected that no more than ~30% of the Fund’s portfolio will be comprised of non-U.S. investments. Depending on market conditions and the views of the Adviser, the Fund may or may not hedge all or a portion of its foreign currency exposures. See “INVESTMENT PROCESS.” |
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To enhance the Fund’s liquidity, particularly in times of possible net outflows through the tender of Shares by investors, the Adviser may sell certain of the Fund’s assets on the Fund’s behalf.
The Fund is expected to hold liquid assets to the extent required for purposes of liquidity management and compliance with the Investment Company Act. Over time, during normal market conditions, it is generally not expected that the Fund will hold more than ~20% of its net assets in cash or cash equivalents for extended periods of time. To the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act, the Fund may borrow for investment purposes.
There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Fund will be achieved or that the Fund’s portfolio design and risk monitoring strategies will be successful. See “INVESTMENT POLICIES.”
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| Risk Factors | An investment in the Fund involves substantial risks and special considerations including market risks, strategy risks and risks associated with Fund Investments, such as the Adviser’s lack of control over Fund Investments and the fact that Fund Investments generally will not be registered as investment companies under the Investment Company Act. There may also be certain conflicts of interest relevant to the management of the Fund, arising out of, among other things, activities of the Adviser, its affiliates and employees with respect to the management of accounts for other clients. For these and other reasons, there can be no assurance that the Fund’s investment activities will be successful or that the Shareholders will not suffer losses. Prospective investors should review carefully the “RISK FACTORS” section of this Prospectus. An investment in the Fund should only be made by investors who understand the risks involved and who are able to withstand the loss of the entire amount invested. Additional discussion of the risks associated with an investment in the Fund can be found under “GENERAL RISKS,” “INVESTMENT RELATED RISKS,” “BUSINESS AND STRUCTURE RELATED RISKS,” “MANAGEMENT RELATED RISKS,” and “LIMITS OF RISKS DISCLOSURE.” | |
| Management | The Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) has overall responsibility for the management and supervision of the business operations of the Fund. See “MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND—The Board of Trustees.” To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate any of its rights, powers and authority to, among others, the officers of the Fund, any committee of the Board or the Adviser. | |
| The Adviser | Pursuant to an investment management agreement (the “Investment Management Agreement”), Portfolio Advisors, LLC, an investment adviser that is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), serves as the Fund’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”). The Adviser was organized as a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Connecticut on June 19, 1997. | |
| Fund Administration | The Fund has retained ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (the “Administrator”) to provide it with certain administrative services. The Fund compensates the Administrator for these services. | |
| Fees and Expenses | The Fund’s expenses incurred and to be incurred in connection with the Fund’s organization are not expected to exceed $270,958. The Fund’s expenses incurred and expected to be incurred in connection with the initial offering of Shares will be amortized by the Fund over the 12-month period beginning on the Initial Closing Date (as defined below) and are not expected to exceed $26,308. The Fund will also bear directly certain ongoing offering costs associated with any periodic offers of Shares, which will be expensed as they are incurred. Offering costs cannot be deducted by the Fund or the Shareholders.
On an ongoing basis, the Fund bears its own operating expenses (including, without limitation, its offering expenses). A more detailed discussion of the Fund’s expenses can be found under “FUND EXPENSES.” |
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Investment Management Fee. The Fund pays the Adviser an investment management fee (the “Investment Management Fee”) in consideration of the Advisory services provided by the Adviser to the Fund. The Fund pays the Adviser an Investment Management Fee at a quarterly rate of 0.3125% (1.25%, on an annualized basis), of the Fund’s Managed Investments at the end of each calendar quarter. “Managed Investments” means the total value of the Fund’s assets (including any assets attributable to money borrowed for investment purposes) plus any unfunded investment commitments (i.e., amounts committed to Fund Investments that have not yet been drawn for investment), minus the sum of the Fund’s accrued liabilities (other than money borrowed for investment purposes), minus cash and cash equivalents. The Investment Management Fee is paid to the Adviser before giving effect to any repurchase of Shares in the Fund effective as of that date and will decrease the net profits or increase the net losses of the Fund that are credited to its Shareholders. See “INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FEE.” The Fund also reimburses the Adviser for certain out-of-pocket expenses.
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Incentive Fee. The Fund will also pay to the Adviser an incentive fee (the “Incentive Fee”) calculated and payable quarterly in arrears equal to 10% of the excess, if any, of (i) the net profits of the Fund for the relevant period over (ii) the then balance, if any, of the Loss Recovery Account (as defined below). For purposes of the Incentive Fee, the term “net profits” means the amount by which the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund on the last day of the relevant period exceeds the NAV of the Fund as of the commencement of the same period, including any net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation of investments and realized income and gains or losses and expenses (which, for this purpose shall not include any distribution and/or shareholder servicing fees, litigation, any extraordinary expenses or Incentive Fee and any amount contributed to or withdrawn from the Fund by shareholders). The Fund will maintain a memorandum account (the “Loss Recovery Account”), which will have an initial balance of zero and will be (i) increased upon the close of each calendar quarter of the Fund by the amount of the net losses of the Fund for the quarter, and (ii) decreased (but not below zero) upon the close of each calendar quarter by the amount of the net profits of the Fund for the quarter. Shareholders will benefit from the Loss Recovery Account in proportion to their holdings of Shares. See “Incentive Fee.”
Administration Fee. The Administrator provides the Fund certain administration and accounting services. In consideration for these services, the Administrator is paid an annual fee calculated based upon the average net asset value of the Fund, subject to a minimum annual fee (the “Administration Fee”). The Administration Fee is paid to the Administrator out of the assets of the Fund and therefore decreases the net profits or increases the net losses of the Fund. The Fund also reimburses the Administrator for certain out-of-pocket expenses and pays the Administrator a fee for transfer agency services. See “ADMINISTRATION.”
The Fund has received exemptive relief from the SEC that allows the Fund, subject to certain conditions, to adopt a Distribution and Service Plan with respect to Class A Shares and Class D Shares in compliance with Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act. Under the Distribution and Service Plan, the Fund will be permitted to pay as compensation up to 1.00% on an annualized basis of the aggregate net assets of the Fund attributable to Class A Shares and up to 0.25% on an annualized basis of the aggregate net assets of the Fund attributable to Class D Shares (together, the “Distribution and Servicing Fee”) to the Fund’s Distributor or other qualified recipients under the Distribution and Service Plan. The Distribution and Servicing Fee will be paid out of the Fund’s assets and decreases the net profits or increases the net losses of the Fund. For purposes of determining the Distribution and Servicing Fee only, the value of the Fund’s assets will be calculated prior to any reduction for any fees and expenses, including, without limitation, the Distribution and Servicing Fee payable. Class I Shares are not subject to a Distribution and Servicing Fee. See “DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN”. |
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| Distributions | Because the Fund intends to qualify annually as a regulated investment company (a “RIC”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the Fund intends to distribute at least 90% of its annual net taxable income to its Shareholders. Nevertheless, there can be no assurance that the Fund will pay distributions to Shareholders at any particular rate. Each year, a statement on Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form 1099-DIV identifying the amount and character of the Fund’s distributions will be mailed to Shareholders. See “Taxes” below. See also, “DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN.” | |
| Eligible Investors | Each prospective investor in the Fund will be required to certify that it is a “qualified client” within the meaning of Rule 205-3 under the Advisers Act and an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The criteria for qualifying as a “qualified client” and an “accredited investor” are set forth in the subscription documents that must be completed by each prospective investor. | |
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In addition, Shares are generally being offered only to investors that are either (i) U.S. persons for U.S. federal income tax purposes or (ii) non-U.S. persons that meet eligibility standards as defined by the Fund pursuant to applicable law in the relevant jurisdictions. Investors who meet such qualifications are referred to in this Prospectus as “Eligible Investors.” The qualifications required to invest in the Fund will appear in subscription documents that must be completed by each prospective investor. Existing Shareholders who request to purchase additional Shares will be required to qualify as “Eligible Investors” and to complete an additional investor certification prior to any additional purchase.
To the extent the Fund identifies any Shareholder holding Shares that was not an Eligible Investor at the time of acquiring such Shares, the Fund reserves the right to (i) cause a mandatory repurchase of all or some of the Shares of such Shareholder, or any person acquiring Shares from or through such Shareholder, (ii) retain any unrealized gains or profits associated with Shares held by such Shareholder and/or (iii) take any other action the Board determines to be appropriate in light of the circumstances.
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| Purchasing Shares | The minimum initial investment in the Fund for Class A Shares is $50,000, the minimum initial investment for Class I Shares is $5,000,000 and the minimum initial investment for Class D Shares is $50,000 except for additional purchases pursuant to the dividend reinvestment plan. See “DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN”. However, the Fund, in its sole discretion, may accept investments below these minimums. Investors subscribing through a given broker/dealer or registered investment adviser may have shares aggregated to meet these minimums, so long as denominations are not less than $50,000 and incremental contributions are not less than $5,000. | |
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Shares will generally be offered for purchase as of the first business day of each month, except that Shares may be offered more or less frequently as determined by the Board in its sole discretion.
Investments in Class A Shares and Class D Shares of the Fund are sold subject to a sales charge of up to 3.50% of the investment. For some investors, the sales charge may be waived or reduced (in whole or in part). The full amount of sales charge may be reallowed to brokers or dealers participating in the offering. Your financial intermediary may impose additional charges when you purchase shares of the Fund. | ||
| Subscriptions are generally subject to the receipt of cleared funds on or prior to the acceptance date set by the Fund and notified to prospective investors. Pending any closing, funds received from prospective investors will be placed in an account with DST Asset Manager Solutions, Inc., the Fund’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”). On the date of any closing, the balance in the account with respect to each investor whose investment is accepted will be invested in the Fund on behalf of such investor. Any interest earned with respect to such account will be paid to the Fund. |
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| A prospective investor must submit a completed subscription document on or prior to the acceptance date set by the Fund and notified to prospective investors. The Fund reserves the right to accept or reject (in whole or in part), in its sole discretion, any request to purchase Shares at any time. The Fund also reserves the right to suspend or terminate offerings of Shares at any time. Additional information regarding the subscription process is set forth under “PURCHASING SHARES.” | ||
| The Initial Closing | It is anticipated that the initial closing will occur no later than December 31, 2021 (the “Initial Closing Date”). The purchase price of the Shares on the Initial Closing Date will $10.00 per Share. Thereafter, the purchase price Shares will be based on the net asset value per Share as of the date such Shares are purchased. Fractions of Shares will be issued to one one-thousandth of a Share. | |
| Dividend Reinvestment Plan | The Fund intends to adopt an “opt out” dividend reinvestment plan (the “DRIP”). Investors that wish to participate in the DRIP will not be required to take any action. A participating investor’s distribution amount will purchase Shares at the net asset value of the Fund. Investors that wish to receive their distributions in cash may do so by making a written election to not participate in the DRIP on the investor’s subscription agreement or by notifying the Administrator in writing at MVP Private Markets Fund, c/o ALPS Fund Services, Inc. 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, CO 80203. Such written notice must be received by the Administrator 60 days prior to the record date of the distribution or the Shareholder will receive such distribution in shares through the DRIP. | |
| Repurchases of Shares | The Fund is not a liquid investment. No Shareholder will have the right to require the Fund to redeem its Shares. The Fund from time to time may offer to repurchase Shares pursuant to written tenders by the Shareholders. | |
| The Adviser anticipates recommending to the Board that, under normal market circumstances, the Fund conduct repurchase offers of no more than 5% of the Fund’s net assets generally quarterly beginning on date approximately 10 months from launch (or such earlier or later date as the Board may determine) and thereafter quarterly on or about each December 31, March 31, June 30 and September 30. | ||
| Any repurchases of Shares will be made at such times and on such terms as may be determined by the Board from time to time in its sole discretion. The Fund may also elect to repurchase less than the full amount that a Shareholder requests to be repurchased. If a repurchase offer is oversubscribed by Shareholders, the Fund will repurchase only a pro rata portion of the Shares tendered by each Shareholder. In determining whether the Fund should offer to repurchase Shares from Shareholders of the Fund pursuant to repurchase requests, the Board may consider, among other things, the recommendation of the Adviser as well as a variety of other operational, business and economic factors. | ||
| Under certain circumstances, the Board may offer to repurchase Shares at a discount to their prevailing net asset value. In addition, the Board may under certain circumstances elect to postpone, suspend or terminate an offer to repurchase Shares. See “REPURCHASES OF SHARES.” | ||
| A Shareholder who tenders some but not all of its Shares for repurchase will be required to maintain a minimum account balance of $25,000 worth of Shares in the case of Class A Shares, $100,000 worth of Shares in the case of Class I Shares and $25,000 worth of Shares in the case of Class D Shares. Such minimum ownership requirement may be waived by the Board, in its sole discretion. The Fund reserves the right to reduce the amount to be repurchased from a Shareholder so that the required capital balance is maintained. |
| 5 |
| A 2.00% early repurchase fee will be charged by the Fund with respect to any repurchase of Shares from a Shareholder at any time prior to the day immediately preceding the one-year anniversary of the Shareholder’s purchase of the Shares. Shares tendered for repurchase will be treated as having been repurchased on a “first in-first out” basis. An early repurchase fee payable by a Shareholder may be waived by the Fund in circumstances where the Board determines that doing so is in the best interests of the Fund. See “REPURCHASES OF SHARES.” | ||
| Transfer Restrictions | A Shareholder may assign, transfer, sell, encumber, pledge or otherwise dispose of (each, a “transfer”) Shares only (i) by operation of law pursuant to the death, divorce, insolvency, bankruptcy, or adjudicated incompetence of the Shareholder; or (ii) under other limited circumstances, with the consent of the Board (which may be withheld in its sole discretion and is expected to be granted, if at all, only under extenuating circumstances). Notice to the Fund of any proposed transfer must include evidence satisfactory to the Board that the proposed transferee, at the time of the transfer, meets any requirements imposed by the Fund with respect to investor eligibility and suitability. See “ELIGIBLE INVESTORS.” Such notice of a proposed transfer of Shares must also be accompanied by properly completed subscription documents in respect of the proposed transferee. In connection with any request to transfer Shares, the Fund may require the Shareholder requesting the transfer to obtain, at the Shareholder’s expense, an opinion of counsel selected by the Fund as to such matters as the Fund may reasonably request. | |
| Each transferring Shareholder and transferee may be charged reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ and accountants’ fees, incurred by the Fund in connection with the transfer. See “TRANSFERS OF SHARES.” | ||
| Taxes | The Fund intends to elect to be treated as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and it further intends to elect to be treated, and expects each year to qualify as a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As such, the Fund generally will not be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax, provided that it distributes all of its net taxable income and gains each year. It is anticipated that the Fund will principally recognize capital gains and dividends and therefore dividends paid to Shareholders in respect of such income generally will be taxable to Shareholders at the reduced rates of U.S. federal income tax that are applicable to individuals for “qualified dividends” and long-term capital gains. | |
| For a discussion of certain tax risks and considerations relating to an investment in the Fund see “Tax Reports” below and “CERTAIN TAX CONSIDERATIONS.” | ||
| Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisers with respect to the specific U.S. federal, state, local, U.S. and non-U.S. tax consequences, including applicable tax reporting requirements. | ||
| Tax Reports | The Fund will distribute to its Shareholders, after the end of each calendar year, IRS Forms 1099-DIV detailing the amounts includible in such investor’s taxable income for such year as ordinary income, qualified dividend income and long-term capital gains. Dividends and other taxable distributions are taxable to the Fund’s Shareholders even if they are reinvested in additional Shares pursuant to the DRIP. | |
| Reports to Shareholders |
As permitted by SEC regulations, an unaudited semi-annual and an audited annual report, each prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP will be made available on a website within 70 days after the close of the period for which the report is being made, or as otherwise required by the Investment Company Act. Shareholders will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report, unless a shareholder specifically requests paper copies of the reports. See “REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS.”
|
| 6 |
| Fiscal and Tax Year | The Fund’s first fiscal year will conclude on March 31, 2022. Thereafter, the Fund’s fiscal year will be the 12-month period ending on March 31. The Fund’s first taxable year will conclude on September 30, 2022. Thereafter, the Fund’s taxable year will be the 12-month period ending on September 30. | |
| Term | The Fund’s term is perpetual unless the Fund is otherwise terminated under the terms of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust. |
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SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES
The following table illustrates the expenses and fees that the Fund expects to incur and that Shareholders can expect to bear directly or indirectly.
| SHAREHOLDER FEES | Class A Shares | Class I Shares | Class D Shares |
| Maximum Sales Load Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) (1) | 3.50% | None | 3.50% |
| Maximum Early Repurchase Fee (as a percentage of repurchased amount) (2) | 2.00% | 2.00% | 2.00% |
| ANNUAL EXPENSES (as a percentage of net assets attributable to Shares) | |||
| Investment Management Fee (3) | 1.25% | 1.25% | 1.25% |
| Incentive Fee (4) | 1.33% | 1.33% | 1.33% |
| Distribution and Servicing Fees(5) | 1.00% | 0.00% | 0.25% |
| Other Expenses (6) | 0.28% | 0.28% | 0.28% |
| Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (7) | 0.87% | 0.87% | 0.87% |
| Total Annual Expenses | 4.73% | 3.73% | 3.98% |
| Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement (8) | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (after Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement) | 4.73% | 3.73% | 3.98% |
| (1) | Investors in Class A Shares and Class D Shares may be charged a sales charge of up to 3.50% of the subscription amount. |
| (2) | A 2.00% early repurchase fee payable to the Fund will be charged with respect to the repurchase of a Shareholder’s Class A Shares, Class I Shares or Class D Shares at any time prior to the day immediately preceding the one-year anniversary of a Shareholder’s purchase of the Shares (on a “first in-first out” basis). An early repurchase fee payable by a Shareholder may be waived by the Fund, in circumstances where the Board determines that doing so is in the best interests of the Fund and in a manner as will not discriminate unfairly against any Shareholder. In addition, under certain circumstances the Board may offer to repurchase Shares at a discount to their prevailing net asset value. See “REPURCHASES OF SHARES.” |
| (3) | The Investment Management Fee is equal to a quarterly rate of 0.3125% (1.25%, on an annualized basis), of the Fund’s Managed Investments at the end of each calendar quarter. “Managed Investments” means the total value of the Fund’s assets (including any assets attributable to money borrowed for investment purposes) plus any unfunded investment commitments (i.e., amounts committed to Fund Investments that have not yet been drawn for investment), minus the sum of the Fund’s accrued liabilities (other than money borrowed for investment purposes), minus cash and cash equivalents. The Investment Management Fee is paid to the Adviser before giving effect to any repurchase of Shares in the Fund effective as of that date and will decrease the net profits or increase the net losses of the Fund that are credited to its Shareholders. See “INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FEE” for additional information. |
| (4) | The Adviser (or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, an affiliate of the Adviser) will be entitled to receive an Incentive Fee calculated and payable quarterly in arrears equal to 10% of the excess, if any, of (i) the net profits of the Fund for the relevant period over (ii) the then balance, if any, of the Loss Recovery Account. For purposes of the Incentive Fee, the term “net profits” means the amount by which the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund on the last day of the relevant period exceeds the NAV of the Fund as of the commencement of the same period, including any net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation of investments and realized income and gains or losses and expenses (which, for this purpose shall not include any distribution and/or shareholder servicing fees, litigation, any extraordinary expenses or Incentive Fee and any amount contributed to or withdrawn from the Fund by shareholders). The Fund will maintain the Loss Recovery Account, which will have an initial balance of zero and will be (i) increased upon the close of each calendar quarter of the Fund by the amount of the net losses of the Fund for the quarter, and (ii) decreased (but not below zero) upon the close of each calendar quarter by the amount of the net profits of the Fund for the quarter. Shareholders will benefit from the Loss Recovery Account in proportion to their holdings of Shares. Because the Fund has not commenced operations the Incentive Fee has yet to be charged. |
| (5) | The Fund has received exemptive relief from the SEC permitting it to offer multiple classes of Shares and to adopt a distribution and service plan for Class A Shares and Class D Shares. If approved, the Fund may charge a distribution and/or shareholder servicing fee up to a maximum of 1.00% per year on Class A Shares and up to a maximum of 0.25% per year on Class D Shares on an annualized basis of the aggregate net assets of the Fund attributable to each class. The Fund may use these fees, in respect of the relevant class, to compensate financial intermediaries or financial institutions for distribution-related expenses, if applicable, and providing ongoing services in respect of clients with whom they have distributed Class A Shares and Class D Shares of the Fund. See “DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN.” |
| (6) | Other Expenses are estimated for the Fund’s current fiscal year. |
| (7) | Shareholders also indirectly bear a portion of the asset-based fees, performance or incentive fees or allocations and other expenses incurred by the Fund as an investor in the Portfolio Funds. Generally, asset-based fees payable in connection with Portfolio Fund investments will range from 1% to 2% (annualized) of the commitment amount of the Fund’s investment, and performance or incentive fees or allocations are typically 10% to 20% of a Portfolio Fund’s net profits annually, although it is possible that such amounts may be exceeded for certain Sponsors. The Fund may also indirectly bear asset-based fees, performance or incentive fees or allocations and other expenses as an investor in other Fund Investments. The “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” disclosed above, however, do not reflect any performance-based fees or allocations paid by the Portfolio Funds that are calculated solely on the realization and/or distribution of gains, or on the sum of such gains and unrealized appreciation of assets distributed in kind, as such fees and allocations for a particular period may be unrelated to the cost of investing in the Portfolio Funds. |
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| (8) | The Adviser has entered into an expense limitation agreement (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”) with the Fund, whereby the Adviser has agreed to waive fees that it would otherwise be paid, and/or to assume expenses of the Fund (a “Waiver”), if required to ensure the Total Annual Expenses (excluding taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, certain transaction-related expenses, extraordinary expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, the Investment Management Fee and Incentive Fee) do not exceed 2.00%, 1.00% and 1.25% of the average daily net assets of Class A Shares, Class I Shares and Class D Shares, respectively (the “Expense Limit”). For a period not to exceed three years from the date on which a Waiver is made, the Adviser may recoup amounts waived or assumed, provided it is able to effect such recoupment without causing the Fund’s expense ratio (after recoupment) to exceed the lesser of (a) the expense limit in effect at the time of the waiver, and (b) the expense limit in effect at the time of the recoupment. The Expense Limitation Agreement will have a term ending one year from the date the Fund commences operations, and will automatically renew thereafter for up to two additional consecutive twelve-month terms, provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Trustees. The Expense Limitation Agreement may be terminated by the Fund’s Board of Trustees upon thirty days’ written notice to the Adviser. |
The purpose of the table above is to assist prospective investors in understanding the various fees and expenses Shareholders will bear directly or indirectly. “Other Expenses,” as shown above, includes, among other things, professional fees and other expenses that the Fund will bear, including initial and ongoing offering costs and fees and expenses of the Adviser, Administrator, Transfer Agent and Custodian. For a more complete description of the various fees and expenses of the Fund, see “INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FEE,” “Incentive Fee,” “ADMINISTRATION,” “CUSTODIAN,” “FUND EXPENSES,” “REPURCHASES OF SHARES” and “PURCHASING SHARES.”
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. The example assumes that all distributions are reinvested at net asset value and that the percentage amounts listed under annual expenses remain the same in the years shown. The assumption in the hypothetical example of a 5% annual return is required by regulation of the SEC applicable to all registered investment companies. The assumed 5% annual return is not a prediction of, and does not represent, the projected or actual performance of Shares.
EXAMPLE
Class A Shares
You Would Pay the Following Expenses Based on the Imposition of the 3.50% Sales Charge, a 1.00% Distribution and Servicing Fee and a $1,000 Investment in the Fund, Assuming a 5% Annual Return: | 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | ||||||||||||
| With Redemption | $ | 96 | $ | 168 | $ | 261 | $ | 495 | ||||||||
| Without Redemption | $ | 76 | $ | 168 | $ | 261 | $ | 495 | ||||||||
Class I Shares
| You Would Pay the Following Expenses Based on a $1,000 Investment in the Fund, Assuming a 5% Annual Return: | 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | ||||||||||||
| With Redemption | $ | 58 | $ | 114 | $ | 192 | $ | 397 | ||||||||
| Without Redemption | $ | 38 | $ | 114 | $ | 192 | $ | 397 | ||||||||
Class D Shares
| You Would Pay the Following Expenses Based on the Imposition of the 3.50% Sales Charge, a 0.25% Distribution and Servicing Fee and a $1,000 Investment in the Fund, Assuming a 5% Annual Return: | 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | ||||||||||||
| With Redemption | $ | 89 | $ | 148 | $ | 228 | $ | 436 | ||||||||
| Without Redemption | $ | 69 | $ | 148 | $ | 228 | $ | 436 | ||||||||
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The example is based on the annual fees and expenses set out on the table above and should not be considered a representation of future expenses. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those shown. Moreover, the rate of return of the Fund may be greater or less than the hypothetical 5% return used in the example. A greater rate of return than that used in the example would increase the dollar amount of the asset-based fees paid by the Fund, as well as the effect of the Incentive Fee.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The proceeds from the sale of Shares of the Fund, not including the amount of any placement fees and the Fund’s fees and expenses (including, without limitation, offering expenses), will be invested by the Fund in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies as soon as practicable and not later than six months after receipt, subject to market conditions and the availability of suitable investments; proceeds held in cash may be used to meet operational needs, to provide for anticipated funding requirements with respect to Fund Investments, for temporary defensive purposes, or to maintain liquidity.
Such proceeds will be invested together with any interest earned in the Fund’s account with the custodian prior to the closing of the applicable offering. See “PURCHASING SHARES—Purchase Terms.” Delays in investing the Fund’s assets may occur (i) because of the time typically required to complete private transactions (which may be considerable), (ii) because certain Portfolio Funds selected by the Adviser may provide infrequent opportunities to purchase their securities, (iii) because of the time required for the Sponsors to invest the amounts committed by the Fund and/or (iv) because a prospective Fund Investment fails to close.
A portion of the amount of proceeds of the offering of Shares or any other available funds may be invested in short-term debt securities or money market funds pending investment pursuant to the Fund’s investment objective and strategies. In addition, subject to applicable law, the Fund may maintain a portion of its assets in cash or such short-term securities or money market funds to meet operational needs, to provide for anticipated funding requirements with respect to Fund Investments, for temporary defensive purposes, or to maintain liquidity. The Fund may be prevented from achieving its objective during any period in which the Fund’s assets are not substantially invested in accordance with its principal investment strategies.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND STRATEGIES
Investment Objective
The Fund’s investment objective will be to generate long-term capital appreciation by investing in a diversified portfolio of private market investments, with a focus on mid-sized companies in the United States.
The investment objective of the Fund is not a fundamental policy of the Fund and may be changed by the Board without the vote of a majority (as defined by the Investment Company Act) of the Fund’s outstanding Shares. The Fund’s fundamental policies, which are listed in the SAI, may only be changed by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund will seek to achieve its investment objective through a mix of investments (the “Fund Investments”) that is predominantly expected to comprise of private equity, and to a lesser extent private credit. Fund Investments are expected to primarily consist of: (i) direct investments in the equity or debt of target companies and other private assets (“Direct Investments”), typically with third-party managers (“Sponsors”); (ii) purchases of existing interests in private equity or private credit funds (“Portfolio Funds”) and other private assets managed by Sponsors (“Secondary Investments”); (iii) subscriptions for new interests in Portfolio Funds (“Primary Investments”); and (iv) short-term and liquid investments, including money market funds, short term treasuries, and/or other liquid investment vehicles. In addition, the Fund may invest in other securities or strategies including those that are intended to generate the cash flow, risk and return profiles of traditional private equity and private credit investments. Among these investment types, Direct Investments and Secondary Investments are expected to collectively comprise a majority of the Fund’s portfolio.
Direct Investments may include both direct equity and direct credit investments. In a direct equity investment, the Fund typically acquires an interest in the equity of an operating company through a privately negotiated transaction. Infrequently, direct equity investments may also encompass, without limitation, investments in real estate or other real assets, investments structured as debt but with significant equity-like characteristics, or privately negotiated transactions with a listed operating company or acquisition company. In a direct credit investment, the Fund typically invests in debt (including, without limitation, senior, subordinated, second lien, mezzanine or bonds) of an operating company or asset pool.
Secondary Investments may include both LP secondaries and GP secondaries. In an LP secondary, the Fund typically purchases interests in seasoned private equity funds, private credit funds or other private assets, typically in transactions originated by an existing investor in the relevant asset(s). In a GP secondary, the Fund typically purchases interests in seasoned private companies and/or other private assets, typically in transactions originated by the Sponsor of the relevant asset(s). GP secondary investments may be structured in a variety of ways, including but not limited to subscriptions for interests in continuation funds and/or direct purchases of private assets. Such mature investments may return cash more quickly than Primary Investments and may also avoid substantial uncalled commitments. Both characteristics can be attractive given the structure of the Fund.
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Primary Investments may include Portfolio Funds that follow a broad range of strategies, including funds that aim to focus their investments within particular industries or geographic regions, or which target companies having particular financing needs. In a Primary Investment, the Fund typically seeks funds following buyout and growth strategies that target mid-sized companies in the United States.
Under normal circumstances, the Fund intends to invest and/or make capital commitments of at least 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in “Private Market Assets”. For purposes of this policy, Private Market Assets include Direct Investments, Portfolio Funds, Secondary Investments, and Primary Investments. This policy is not fundamental and may be changed by the Fund’s Board upon 60 days’ prior written notice to Shareholders. This test is applied at the time of investment; later percentage changes caused by a change in the value of the Fund’s assets, including as a result in the change in the value of the Fund’s investments or due to the issuance or redemption of Shares, will not require the Fund to dispose of an investment.
The Fund has applied for exemptive relief from the provisions of Sections 17(d) of the Investment Company Act to invest in certain privately negotiated investment transactions alongside other funds managed by the Adviser or certain of its affiliates, subject to certain conditions. The Adviser will not cause the Fund to engage in certain negotiated investments alongside affiliates unless the Fund has received an order granting an exemption from Section 17 of the Investment Company Act or unless such investments are not prohibited by Section 17(d) of the Investment Company Act or interpretations of Section 17(d) as expressed in SEC no-action letters or other available guidance.
The Fund will principally target Fund Investments within the United States, but may, directly or indirectly, make investments outside of the United States. It is expected that no more than ~30% of the Fund’s portfolio will be comprised of non-U.S. investments. Depending on market conditions, hedging costs and the views of the Adviser, the Fund may or may not hedge all or a portion of any foreign currency exposures.
No guarantee or representation is made that the investment program of the Fund will be successful, that the various Portfolio Funds and other Fund Investments selected will produce positive returns, or that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
PRIVATE MARKETS OVERVIEW
Private market investments, whether private equity or private credit, are investments that are typically made in non-public companies through privately negotiated transactions. Such investments may be structured using a range of financial instruments, including common and preferred equity, convertible securities, senior debt, subordinated debt and warrants or other derivatives, depending on the strategy of the investor and the financing requirements of the company.
Private investment funds, often organized as limited partnerships, are the most common vehicles for making private market investments. In such funds, investors usually commit to contribute up to a certain amount of capital when requested by the fund’s manager or general partner. The general partner then makes investments on behalf of the fund, typically according to a pre-defined investment strategy and time horizon. The fund’s investments are usually realized, or “exited” after a two- to six-year holding period through a private sale, an initial public offering (IPO) or a recapitalization, and the proceeds are distributed to the fund’s investors. The funds themselves typically have a duration of ten to twelve years.
The private market is diverse and can be divided into several different segments, each of which may exhibit distinct characteristics based on combinations of various factors. These include the type and financing stage of the investment, the geographic region in which the investment is made and the vintage year.
Investments in private markets have increased significantly over the last 25 years, driven principally by large institutional investors seeking increased returns and portfolio efficiency. It is now common for large pension funds, endowments and other institutional investors to dedicate several percentage points of their overall portfolios to private market investments.
Investment Types
| · | Direct Investments. Direct investments generally involve taking an interest in securities issued by an operating company, whether equity or credit. Direct equity investments generally involve new owners taking a material stake in the target company, frequently a controlling interest, and exercising significant influence on the growth and development of the company through work with the company’s management and board of directors. Direct credit investments often represent financing for buyout or growth investments and may have various features and covenants designed to protect the lender’s interests; such investments may include both secured and unsecured loans, bonds and/or other forms of debt. Direct investments may vary in duration, but usually are exited within two to six years. |
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In contrast to private equity fund investments (which require a commitment to a largely unknown portfolio), direct investments involve specific situations and particular companies. Accordingly, this style of investing offers the greatest degree of transparency and control in portfolio construction and most directly reflects the investor’s sourcing, underwriting, negotiation and structuring skills. In addition, investing directly is generally the most cost-effective way to make private equity investments, by avoiding some or all of the fees and expenses generally associated with investing indirectly through underlying private equity funds.
| · | Secondary Investments. Secondary investments, or “secondaries,” are interests in existing private equity funds, private credit funds or other assets that are acquired in privately negotiated transactions, typically after the end of the relevant fund’s fundraising period. |
Secondary investments play an important role in a diversified private equity portfolio. Because secondaries allow investors to avoid some of the prior fees charged by private equity fund managers and are often (but not always) purchased at a discount from a private equity fund’s net asset value, secondaries may exhibit little or none of the “J-curve” characteristics associated with primary investments. In addition, secondaries typically provide earlier distributions than primary investments, and may also provide valuable arbitrage opportunities for sophisticated investors. The ability to source and value potential investments is crucial for success in secondary investing, and the nature of the process typically requires significant resources and expertise. As a result, generally only very large and experienced investors are active secondary market participants.
| · | Primary Investments. Primary investments (primaries) are interests or investments in newly established private equity or private credit funds. Most private investment firms raise new funds only every two to four years and may not offer funds that pursue a certain strategy in any particular year. Accordingly, many top-performing funds may be closed to new investors or unavailable for a primary investment at any given time. Because of the limited windows of opportunity for making primary investments in particular funds, strong relationships with leading firms are highly important for primary investors. |
Primary investors subscribe for interests during an initial fundraising period, and their capital commitments are then used to fund investments in several individual operating companies (typically ten to thirty) during a defined investment period. The investments of the fund are usually unknown at the time of commitment, and investors typically have little or no ability to influence the investments that are made during the fund’s life. Because primary investors must rely on the expertise of the fund manager, an accurate assessment of the manager’s capabilities is essential for investment success.
Primary investments typically exhibit a value development pattern, commonly known as the “J-curve”, in which unrealized net return typically declines moderately during the early years of the fund’s life as investment related fees and expenses are incurred before investment gains have been realized. As the fund matures and portfolio companies are sold, the pattern typically reverses with increasing net asset value and distributions.
Financing Stages
In the private equity asset class, the term “financing stage” is used to describe investments (or funds that invest) in companies at a certain stage of development. The different financing stages have distinct risk, return and correlation characteristics, and play different roles within a diversified portfolio. Broadly speaking, private equity investments can be broken down into three financing stages: buyout, venture capital and special situations. These categories may be further subdivided based on the investment strategies that are employed.
| · | Buyouts. Control investments in established, cash flow positive companies are usually classified as buyouts. Buyout investments may focus on small-, mid- or large-capitalization companies, and such investments collectively represent the largest portion of the capital deployed in the overall private equity market. The use of debt financing, or leverage, is prevalent in buyout transactions. |
| · | Venture capital. Investments in new and emerging companies are usually classified as venture capital. Such investments are often in technology, healthcare, or other high growth industries. Companies financed by venture capital are generally not cash flow positive at the time of investment and may require several rounds of financing before the company can be sold privately or taken public. Venture capital investors may finance companies along the full path of development or focus on certain sub-stages (usually classified as seed, early and late stage) in partnership with other investors. |
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| · | Special situations. Investments that do not fall within the categories above are usually classified as special situations. Such investments encompass a broad range of investment strategies and financial instruments including structured equity, distressed debt, turnarounds and/or other niche strategies. The value drivers and cash flow characteristics of special situations investments are frequently distinct from those of other private investments, complementing a buyout and venture capital portfolio. |
INVESTMENT PROCESS
The Adviser follows a structured, multi-stage investment process developed over more than two decades of investing in private markets.
Portfolio Planning
The investment process begins with asset allocation and portfolio planning. The portfolio plan is designed to provide a long-term framework for diversification across various segments of the private markets and over time. Long-term allocation target ranges are established based on the general characteristics of each investment type, providing a general guideline for capital allocation over time. In addition, the portfolio plan is used to manage exposure to particular companies, industries, Sponsors and/or Portfolio Funds or other sources of idiosyncratic risk. By constructing the portfolio in this way, the Adviser believes that the Fund may be able to achieve more consistent investment returns and lower volatility than would generally be expected if the Fund’s portfolio were more concentrated.
Deal Sourcing
Over the past 25 years, the Adviser has established a significant presence in the U.S. private equity industry. As of December 31, 2020, the Adviser managed approximately $30.6 billion of assets across various investment programs targeting direct, secondary and primary investments, primarily in private equity and private credit. Since inception, the Adviser has invested in more than 2,100 funds managed by more than 650 Sponsors on behalf of its clients. Through these activities the Adviser has developed, and continually seeks to cultivate, a deep network of relationships across the private markets. This network has historically proven to be a rich source of deal flow. The Adviser believes the broad scope of its investment activities, together with its ability to provide a broad array of capital solutions for Sponsors, will continue to result in access to attractive investment opportunities, from which it expects the Fund will benefit.
Initial Screening
As potential investment opportunities are identified, each is subjected to an initial screening. This initial evaluation is typically based on preliminary discussions and/or information received from a Sponsor or intermediary in an investment presentation or a confidential information memorandum. If a prospective investment is judged to be worthy of further consideration, a deal team is formed to investigate the opportunity in detail.
Due Diligence
The Adviser’s due diligence process requires a detailed quantitative and qualitative evaluation of each prospective investment. The Adviser compiles information from a variety of public and private sources such as management presentations, on-site or virtual visits, personal interviews, reference calls and/or third-party research. Based on this information, the Adviser analyzes numerous factors relating to the prospective investment to better understand both potential sources of value creation and potential sources of risk. The specific analyses performed vary by investment type but typically include factors such as historic performance, management quality, market positioning, competitive strategy, industry dynamics, capital structure, valuation and proposed terms, among others. The overall process begins with a general investigation and analysis (Phase I), with detailed follow-up research and/or modeling to address key questions, assumptions or concerns (Phase II). In each phase, the investment committee reviews the team’s findings and may decline the opportunity, request additional information, or approve subject to defined conditions.
Execution
In the final stage of the investment process, the Adviser facilitates a review of the legal terms and tax considerations of the proposed investment, often concurrently with the finalization of commercial due diligence. Based on the findings of both internal professionals and external advisers, the Adviser seeks to negotiate the terms and conditions of the investment. After resolving any open issues and negotiating terms, a final investment recommendation is made to the investment committee, which approves or declines the investment.
INVESTMENT POLICIES
Portfolio and Liquidity Management
The Adviser intends to use a range of techniques to help reduce the risk associated with the Fund’s investment strategy. These techniques may include, without limitation:
| · | Diversifying investments and commitments across Portfolio Funds, Sponsors, companies and industries; |
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| · | Investing predominantly within the United States, across multiple geographic regions; |
| · | Investing over time to capture multiple vintage years and maturity dates; and |
| · | Actively managing cash and committed borrowing facilities. |
The Adviser intends to manage the Fund’s portfolio with a view towards managing liquidity and maintaining a high investment level. Accordingly, the Adviser may make investments based, in part, on anticipated future distributions from Fund Investments. The Adviser also takes other anticipated cash flows into account, such as those relating to new subscriptions, the tender of Shares by Shareholders and distributions made to Shareholders. To forecast portfolio cash flows, the Adviser utilizes quantitative and qualitative factors, including quarterly financial statements, portfolio observations and qualitative forecasts by the Adviser’s and its affiliates’ investment professionals.
The Fund is expected to hold liquid assets to the extent required for purposes of liquidity management and compliance with the Investment Company Act. Over time, during normal market conditions, it is generally not expected that the Fund will hold more than ~20% of its net assets in cash or cash equivalents that are not committed to future investments for extended periods of time. To enhance the Fund’s liquidity, particularly in times of possible net outflows through the tender of Shares by Shareholders, the Adviser may sell certain of the Fund’s assets on the Fund’s behalf.
There can be no assurance that the objectives of the Fund with respect to liquidity management will be achieved or that the Fund’s portfolio design and risk management strategies will be successful. Prospective investors should refer to the discussion of the risks associated with the investment strategy and structure of the Fund found under “GENERAL RISKS,” INVESTMENT RELATED RISKS,” and “LIMITS OF RISKS DISCLOSURE.”
Borrowing by the Fund
The Fund may borrow money to pay operating expenses, including, without limitation, investment management fees, or to purchase Fund Investments, to fund repurchase of Shares or for other portfolio management purposes. Such borrowing may be accomplished through credit facilities or derivative instruments or by other means. The use of borrowings for investment purposes involves a high degree of risk. Under the Investment Company Act, the Fund is not permitted to borrow for any purposes if, immediately after such borrowing, the Fund would have asset coverage (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of less than 300% with respect to indebtedness or less than 200% with respect to preferred stock. The Investment Company Act also provides that the Fund may not declare distributions or purchase its Shares (including through repurchase offers) if, immediately after doing so, it will have an asset coverage of less than 300% or 200%, as applicable. The foregoing requirements do not apply to Portfolio Funds or other Fund Investments in which the Fund invests unless such Portfolio Funds or other Fund Investments are registered under the Investment Company Act. The Board may modify the borrowing policies of the Fund, including the purposes for which borrowings may be made, and the length of time that the Fund may hold Fund Investments purchased with borrowed money. The rights of any lenders to the Fund to receive payments of interest or repayments of principal will be senior to those of the Shareholders and the terms of any borrowings may contain provisions that limit certain activities of the Fund.
Hedging Techniques
From time to time in its discretion, the Adviser may employ various hedging techniques in an attempt to reduce certain potential risks to which the Fund’s portfolio may be exposed. These hedging techniques may involve the use of derivative instruments, including swaps and other arrangements such as exchange-listed and over-the-counter put and call options, rate caps, floors and collars, and futures and forward contracts. The Fund may also purchase and write (sell) options contracts on swaps, commonly referred to as swaptions.
There are certain risks associated with the use of such hedging techniques. See “INVESTMENT RELATED RISKS—Derivative Instruments” and “INVESTMENT RELATED RISKS—Currency Risk.”
Temporary and Defensive Strategies
The Fund may, from time to time in the Adviser’s discretion, take temporary or defensive positions in cash, cash equivalents, other short-term securities or money market funds to attempt to reduce volatility caused by adverse market, economic, or other conditions. Any such temporary or defensive positions could prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objective. In addition, subject to applicable law, the Fund may, in the Adviser’s sole discretion, hold cash, cash equivalents, other short-term securities or investments in money market funds pending investment, in order to fund anticipated repurchases, expenses of the Fund or other operational needs, or otherwise in the sole discretion of the Adviser. See “USE OF PROCEEDS.”
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RISK FACTORS
The following are certain risk factors that relate to the operations and terms of the Fund. These considerations, which do not purport to be a complete description of any of the particular risks referred to or a complete list of all risks involved in an investment in the Fund, should be carefully evaluated before determining whether to invest in the Fund.
The Shares are speculative and illiquid securities involving substantial risk of loss. An investment in the Fund is appropriate only for those investors who do not require a liquid investment, for whom an investment in the Fund does not constitute a complete investment program, and who fully understand and can assume the risks of an investment in the Fund.
BUSINESS AND STRUCTURE RELATED RISKS
No Operating History
The Fund was formed on April 7, 2021. The Fund is subject to all of the business risks and uncertainties associated with any new business, including the risk that the Fund will not achieve its investment objectives and that the value of Shares could decline substantially.
Closed-End Fund; Liquidity Limited to Periodic Repurchases of Shares
The Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company designed primarily for long-term investors. The Fund is neither a liquid investment nor a trading vehicle. An investor should not invest in the Fund if the investor needs a liquid investment. Closed-end funds differ from open-end management investment companies (commonly known as mutual funds) in that investors in a closed-end fund do not have the right to redeem their shares on a daily basis.
The Fund does not currently intend to list the Shares for trading on any securities exchange, and the Fund does not expect any secondary market to develop for the Shares. Although the Board may, in its sole discretion, cause the Fund to offer to repurchase outstanding Shares at their net asset value (after all applicable fees), or, in certain circumstances, at a discount, and the Adviser intends to recommend to the Board that, in normal market circumstances, the Fund conduct repurchase offers of no more than 5% of the Fund’s net assets generally quarterly beginning on date approximately 10 months from launch (or such earlier or later date as the Board may determine) and thereafter quarterly on or about each December 31, March 31, June 30 and September 30, Shares are considerably less liquid than Shares of funds that trade on a stock exchange, or Shares of open-end registered investment companies. It is possible that the Fund may be unable to repurchase all of the Shares that an investor tenders due to the illiquidity of the Fund Investments or if the Shareholders request the Fund to repurchase more Shares than the Fund is then offering to repurchase. There can be no assurance that the Fund will conduct repurchase offers in any particular period and Shareholders may be unable to tender Shares for repurchase for an indefinite period of time.
There will be a substantial period of time between the date as of which Shareholders must submit a request to have their Shares repurchased and the date they can expect to receive payment for their Shares from the Fund. Shareholders whose Shares are accepted for repurchase bear the risk that the Fund’s net asset value may fluctuate significantly between the time that they submit their repurchase requests and the date as of which such Shares are valued for purposes of such repurchase. Shareholders will have to decide whether to request that the Fund repurchase their Shares without the benefit of having current information regarding the value of Shares on a date proximate to the date on which Shares are valued by the Fund for purposes of effecting such repurchases.
In considering whether to repurchase Shares during periods of financial market stress or other substantial uncertainties, the Board may offer to repurchase Shares at a discount to their prevailing net asset value that the Board believes appropriately reflects market conditions, subject to applicable law. Further, repurchases of Shares, if any, may be suspended, postponed or terminated by the Board under certain circumstances. See “REPURCHASES OF SHARES—Periodic Repurchases.” An investment in the Fund is suitable only for investors who can bear the risks associated with the limited liquidity of Shares and the underlying investments of the Fund. Also, because Shares are not listed on any securities exchange, the Fund is not required, and does not intend, to hold annual meetings of its Shareholders unless called for under the provisions of the Investment Company Act.
Payment In Kind For Repurchased Shares
The Fund generally expects to pay cash to satisfy a shareholder’s repurchase request. See “REPURCHASES OF SHARES—Periodic Repurchases.” However, there can be no assurance that the Fund will have sufficient cash to pay for Shares that are being repurchased or that it will be able to liquidate investments at favorable prices to pay for repurchased Shares. The Fund has the right to distribute securities as payment for repurchased Shares in unusual circumstances, including if making a cash payment would result in a material adverse effect on the Fund. For example, it is possible that the Fund may receive securities from a Fund Investment that are illiquid or difficult to value. In such circumstances, the Adviser would seek to dispose of these securities in a manner that is in the best interests of the Fund, which may include a distribution in-kind to the Fund’s Shareholders. In the event that the Fund makes such a distribution of securities, Shareholders will bear any risks of the distributed securities and may be required to pay a brokerage commission or other costs in order to dispose of such securities.
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Substantial Repurchases
Substantial requests for the Fund to repurchase Shares could require the Fund to liquidate certain of its investments more rapidly than otherwise desirable in order to raise cash to fund the repurchases and achieve a market position appropriately reflecting a smaller asset base. This could have a material adverse effect on the value of the Shares. Further, substantial repurchases may cause a repurchase offer to be oversubscribed. In an oversubscribed repurchase offer, the Fund will repurchase only a pro rata portion of the Shares tendered by each Shareholder, which would further limit the liquidity available to tendering Shareholders. See “BUSINESS AND STRUCTURE RELATED RISKS—Closed-End Fund; Liquidity Limited to Periodic Repurchases of Shares.”
Dilution from Subsequent Offerings of Shares
The Fund expects to accept additional subscriptions for Shares as determined by the Board, in its sole discretion. Additional purchases will dilute the indirect interests of existing Shareholders in the Fund Investments held prior to such purchases, which could have an adverse impact on the existing Shareholders’ interests in the Fund if subsequent Fund Investments underperform the prior investments.
Uncertain Source and Quantity of Funding
Proceeds from the sale of Shares will be used for the Fund’s investment opportunities, operating expenses and for payment of various fees and expenses such as the Investment Management Fee and other fees. To the extent the Fund develops a need for additional capital in the future (for investments or for any other reason) and cannot obtain such capital on acceptable terms, the ability to acquire investments and to expand operations will be adversely affected. This could negatively impact the Fund’s ability to achieve portfolio diversification, its operating results and its ability to make distributions to Shareholders.
Non-Diversified Status
The Fund is a “non-diversified” management investment company. Thus, there are no percentage limitations imposed by the Investment Company Act on the Fund’s assets that may be invested, directly or indirectly, in the securities of any one issuer. Consequently, if one or more Fund Investments are allocated a relatively large percentage of the Fund’s assets, losses suffered by such Fund Investments could result in a higher reduction in the Fund’s capital than if such capital had been more proportionately allocated among a larger number of investments. The Fund may also be more susceptible to any single economic or regulatory occurrence than a diversified investment company. However, the Fund will be subject to diversification requirements applicable to RICs under the Code. See “CERTAIN TAX CONSIDERATIONS.”
Valuation for Fund Investments Uncertain
Under the Investment Company Act, the Fund is required to carry Fund Investments at market value or, if there is no readily available market value, at fair value as determined by the Adviser, in accordance with the Fund’s valuation policy, which has been approved by the Board and is consistent with the Adviser’s Valuation Policy. There is not a public market or active secondary market for many of the securities of the privately-held companies in which the Fund intends to invest. Rather, many of the Fund Investments may be traded on a privately negotiated over-the-counter secondary market for institutional investors. As a result, the Fund will value these securities at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser in accordance with the valuation procedures that have been approved by the Board.
The determination of fair value, and thus the amount of unrealized gains or losses the Fund may incur in any year, is to a degree subjective, and the Adviser has a conflict of interest in making the determination. The Fund values these securities monthly at fair value determined in good faith by the Adviser in accordance with the valuation procedures that have been approved by the Board. Because such valuations, and particularly valuations of private securities and private companies, are inherently uncertain, may fluctuate over short periods of time and may be based on estimates or unaudited figures, the Fund’s determinations of fair value may differ materially from the values that would have been used if a ready market for these non-traded securities existed. Due to this uncertainty, the Fund’s fair value determinations may cause the Fund’s net asset value on a given date to understate or overstate materially the value that the Fund may ultimately realize upon the sale of one or more Fund Investments. See “CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE; VALUATION.”
Valuations Subject to Adjustment
The valuations reported by the Sponsors, based upon which the Fund determines its month-end net asset value and the net asset value per Share may be subject to later adjustment or revision. For example, fiscal year-end net asset value calculations of the Portfolio Funds may be revised as a result of audits by their independent auditors. Other adjustments may occur from time to time. Because such adjustments or revisions, whether increasing or decreasing the net asset value of the Fund at the time they occur, relate to information available only at the time of the adjustment or revision, the adjustment or revision may not affect the amount of the repurchase proceeds of the Fund received by Shareholders who had their Shares repurchased prior to such adjustments and received their repurchase proceeds, subject to the ability of the Fund to adjust or recoup the repurchase proceeds received by Shareholders under certain circumstances as described in “REPURCHASES OF SHARES— Periodic Repurchases.” As a result, to the extent that such subsequently adjusted valuations from the Sponsors or revisions to the net asset value of a Fund Investment adversely affect the Fund’s net asset value, the outstanding Shares may be adversely affected by prior repurchases to the benefit of Shareholders who had their Shares repurchased at a net asset value higher than the adjusted amount. Conversely, any increases in the net asset value resulting from such subsequently adjusted valuations may be entirely for the benefit of the outstanding Shares and to the detriment of Shareholders who previously had their Shares repurchased at a net asset value lower than the adjusted amount. The same principles apply to the purchase of Shares. New Shareholders may be affected in a similar way.
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The valuations of Shares may be significantly affected by numerous factors, some of which are beyond the Fund’s control and may not be directly related to the Fund’s operating performance. These factors include:
| · | changes in regulatory policies or tax guidelines; |
| · | changes in earnings or variations in operating results; |
| · | changes in the value of the Fund Investments; |
| · | changes in accounting guidelines governing valuation of the Fund Investments; |
| · | any shortfall in revenue or net income or any increase in losses from levels expected by investors; |
| · | departure of the Adviser or certain of its respective key personnel; |
| · | general economic trends and other external factors; and |
| · | loss of a major funding source. |
Access and Competition
The activity of identifying, completing and realizing attractive investments that fall within the Fund’s objective is highly competitive, involves a high degree of uncertainty and will be subject to market conditions. Many of the potential Fund Investments in which the Fund will seek to invest are likely to be oversubscribed, with investor demand exceeding the amounts available. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will be able to secure access to prospective Fund Investments or that the investment amounts offered will be as large as the Fund would desire. The Fund expects to encounter significant competition from other entities regardless of whether their investment objectives are similar or different to those of the Fund. Potential competitors include, without limitation, other investment partnerships and corporations, business development companies, strategic industry acquirers, financial institutions, insurance companies, hedge funds and investment funds affiliated with other financial sponsors or institutional investors (investing directly or through affiliates), private equity and debt investors, and credit vehicles, as well as the Adviser’s other funds and accounts, subjecting the Adviser to certain conflicts of interest in evaluating the suitability of investment opportunities and making or recommending acquisitions. Additional funds with similar investment objectives may be formed in the future by other unrelated parties. Some of such competitors may have more relevant experience, greater financial resources and more personnel than the Adviser. In addition, as the number of funds similar to the Fund operating in the marketplace increases, those competing funds may impair the Fund’s investment opportunities and/or adversely affect the terms upon which investments can be made. The Fund may incur significant expenses identifying, investigating, and attempting to acquire assets in potential transactions that are ultimately not consummated. For all of these reasons, competition may cause the returns of the Fund to decline.
To the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act and staff interpretations, the Adviser may seek to have the Fund and one or more other investment vehicles managed by the Adviser or any of its affiliates participate in an investment opportunity. The Fund has filed an application for exemptive relief from the SEC to engage in co-investment transactions with the Adviser and/or its affiliates, including current and future investment vehicles managed by the Adviser. However, there can be no assurance when or if the Fund will obtain such exemptive relief. Furthermore, even if the Fund is able to receive exemptive relief, the Fund could be limited in its ability to invest in certain investments in which the Adviser or any of its affiliates are investing or are invested.
Amount or Frequency of Distributions Not Guaranteed
The Fund expects to pay distributions out of assets legally available for distribution from time to time, at the sole discretion of the Board. Nevertheless, the Fund cannot assure you that the Fund will achieve investment results that will allow the Fund to make a specified level of cash distributions or year-to-year increases in cash distributions. The Fund’s ability to pay distributions may be adversely affected by the impact of the risks described in this Prospectus. All distributions will depend on the Fund’s earnings, its net investment income, its financial condition, and such other factors as the Board may deem relevant from time to time.
In the event that the Fund encounters delays in locating suitable investment opportunities, the Fund may return all or a substantial portion of the proceeds from the offering of Shares in anticipation of future cash flow, which may constitute a return of your capital and will lower your tax basis in your Shares. A return of capital generally is a return of your investment rather than a return of earnings or gains derived from the Fund’s investment activities and will be made after deduction of the fees and expenses payable in connection with the proceeds from the offering of Shares, including any fees payable to the Adviser.
Fluctuations in Performance
The Fund could experience fluctuations in its performance due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the Fund’s ability or inability to make investments in companies that meet the Fund’s investment criteria, the interest rate payable on the debt securities the Fund acquires, the level of the Fund’s expenses, variations in and the timing of the recognition of realized and unrealized gains or losses, the degree to which the Fund encounters competition in its markets and general economic conditions. As a result of these factors, there can be no assurance that the Fund will generate returns or that the Fund’s returns will not be volatile. Results for any previous period (whether of the Fund, any Fund Investment, of any other fund or account managed by the Adviser or its affiliates, or of individuals or investment entities associated with any of the foregoing parties) is not necessarily indicative of performance in any subsequent period.
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Restrictions on Raising Capital and Borrowing
As a result of the annual distribution requirement to qualify as a RIC under the Code, the Fund may need to periodically access the capital markets to raise cash to fund new investments of the Fund. The Fund may issue “senior securities,” as defined in the Investment Company Act (including borrowing money from banks or other financial institutions) only in amounts such that the Fund’s asset coverage, as defined in the Investment Company Act, is at least 300% with respect to indebtedness or at least 200% with respect to preferred stock. Compliance with these requirements may unfavorably limit the Fund’s investment opportunities and reduce its ability in comparison to other companies to profit from favorable spreads between the rates at which it can borrow and the rates at which it can lend.
Reporting Requirements
Shareholders who beneficially own Shares that constitute more than 5% or 10% of the Fund’s Shares are subject to certain requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules promulgated thereunder. These include requirements to file certain reports with the SEC. The Fund has no obligation to file such reports on behalf of such Shareholders or to notify Shareholders that such reports are required to be made. Shareholders who may be subject to such requirements should consult with their legal advisers.
MANAGEMENT RELATED RISKS
Reliance on the Adviser
The Adviser has full discretionary authority to identify, structure, allocate, execute, administer, monitor and liquidate Fund Investments and, in doing so, has no responsibility to consult with any Shareholder. Shareholders have no rights or powers to take part in the management of the Fund. Shareholders must rely entirely on the Adviser to conduct and manage the affairs of the Fund; the success of the Fund will depend in large part upon the skill and expertise of the Adviser to identify and consummate suitable investments and to dispose of investments of the Fund at a profit. No person should invest in the Fund unless such person is willing to entrust all aspects of the investment decisions of the Fund to the Adviser.
Reliance on Key Personnel
The Fund relies on the experience, relationships and expertise of the individuals employed by the Adviser. There can be no assurance that any of these individuals will remain employed with the Adviser or otherwise continue to carry on their current duties throughout the term of the Fund. In particular, investment professionals may be replaced or added at any time. The loss of the services of one or more of the Adviser’s key personnel could have a material adverse impact on the Fund’s ability to realize its investment objectives. Similarly, the success of each Portfolio Fund and other Fund Investment depends to a large extent, on the experience, relationships and expertise of its manager and its key personnel. There can be no assurance that these individuals will remain employed or otherwise continue to be able to carry on their current duties throughout the term of such Portfolio Fund or other investment. The loss of any such key person could have a material adverse effect on the Fund.
Incentive Fee
Any Incentive Fee payable by the Fund that relates to an increase in value of Fund Investments may be computed and paid on gain or income that is unrealized. If a Fund Investment decreases in value, it is possible that the unrealized gain previously included in the calculation of the Incentive Fee will never be realized. The Adviser is not obligated to reimburse the Fund for any part of the Incentive Fee it received that was based on unrealized gain never realized as a result of a sale or other disposition of a Fund Investment at a lower valuation in the future, and such circumstances would result in the Fund paying an Incentive Fee on income or gain the Fund never received.
In addition, the Incentive Fee payable by the Fund to the Adviser may create an incentive for the Adviser to make investments on the Fund’s behalf that are risky or more speculative than would be the case in the absence of such compensation arrangement. The way in which the Incentive Fee payable to the Adviser is determined may encourage the Adviser to use leverage to increase the return on Fund Investments. Under certain circumstances, the use of borrowing may increase the likelihood of default, which would disfavor the Fund and Shareholders. Such a practice could result in the Fund investing in more speculative securities than would otherwise be in the Fund’s best interests, which could result in higher investment losses, particularly during cyclical economic downturns.
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Divergence of Resources
Neither the Adviser nor its affiliates, including individuals employed by the Adviser or its affiliates, are prohibited from raising money for and managing another investment entity that makes the same types of investments as those the Fund will target. As a result, the time and resources that these individuals may devote to the Fund may be diverted. In addition, the Fund may compete with any such investment entity for the same investors and investment opportunities. Affiliates of the Adviser, whose primary businesses include the origination of investments, engage in investment advisory business with accounts that compete with the Fund. Affiliates of the Adviser have no obligation to make their originated investment opportunities available to the Adviser or to the Fund.
Broad and Wide-Ranging Activities
The Adviser engages in a broad spectrum of activities. In the ordinary course of its business activities, the Adviser may engage in activities where the interests of the Adviser or the interests of its clients may conflict or compete with the interests of the Fund and the Adviser may provide services to third parties who have economic or other interests that conflict with those of the Fund. Other present and future activities of the Adviser and/or its clients may give rise to additional conflicts of interest. The Adviser will generally have the power to resolve, or consent to the resolution of, conflicts of interest on behalf of, and such resolution will be binding on, the Fund. The Adviser has adopted policies and procedures that it believes have been reasonably designed to mitigate and/or resolve actual or potential conflicts of interest; nevertheless, there can be no assurance that any such conflicts will be resolved in a manner that potentially affected parties would consider satisfactory.
Firm Policies and Procedures
Because the Adviser has different areas of its asset management business, it is subject to a number of actual and potential conflicts of interest, regulatory requirements and more legal and contractual restrictions than that to which it would otherwise be subject if it had just one line of business. In addressing these conflicts and regulatory, legal and contractual requirements across its various businesses, the Adviser has implemented certain policies and procedures that risk reducing the positive synergies that the Fund expects to utilize for purposes of finding attractive investments. See “CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.”
Transactions with Affiliates
The Adviser and its affiliates engage in financial advisory activities that are independent from, and may from time to time conflict with, those of the Fund or Fund Investments. In the future, there might arise instances where the interests of such affiliates conflict with the interests of the Fund or Fund Investments. For example, the Fund may be prohibited from participating in investments in certain portfolio companies that would otherwise be appropriate for the Fund as a result of existing or proposed investments by other investment accounts managed by the Adviser or its affiliates in such portfolio companies. As a result of prohibitions on transactions with affiliates under the Investment Company Act, the Adviser may elect to cause the Fund to dispose of an investment that becomes distressed, or refrain from exercising certain rights it would otherwise pursue, to the extent an affiliated investment account also holds a position in the underlying portfolio company. The Adviser and/or its affiliates may provide services to, invest in, advise, sponsor and/or act as investment manager to investment vehicles and other persons or entities (including prospective investors in the Fund Investments) which (i) may have structures, investment objectives and/or policies that are similar to (or different than) those of the Fund, (ii) may compete with the Fund for investment opportunities, and (iii) may invest alongside the Fund in certain transactions that are in compliance with section 17 of the Investment Company Act. The Fund has applied for exemptive relief from the SEC that would permit the Fund to participate in certain negotiated direct equity investments alongside other funds managed by the Adviser or certain of its affiliates outside the parameters of Section 17 of the Investment Company Act, subject to certain conditions including (i) that a majority of the Trustees of the Board who have no financial interest in the co-investment transaction and a majority of the Trustees of the Board who are not “interested persons,” as defined in the Investment Company Act, approve the 17(d) investment and (ii) that the price, terms and conditions of the 17(d) investment will be identical for each fund participating pursuant to the exemptive relief. There can be no assurance when or if the Fund will obtain such exemptive relief. Furthermore, even if the Fund obtains exemptive relief, the Fund could be limited in its ability to invest in certain investments in which the Adviser or any of its affiliates are investing or are invested. These co-investment transactions may give rise to conflicts of interest or perceived conflicts of interest among the Fund and the other participating accounts.
Use of Third-Party Service Providers
The Adviser will delegate certain tasks to third party service providers. For example, certain aspects of fund administration, legal, accounting, audit, and tax reporting services will be provided to the Fund by third party service providers at the Fund’s expense. The Fund and the Adviser may not be in a position to verify the reliability of such third parties or the risks associated with delegation of such tasks. The Fund may suffer adverse consequences from actions, errors or failure to act by such third parties, may have obligations, including indemnity obligations, to them and/or limited recourse against them. The Adviser will not be responsible for determining whether underlying Fund Investments and/or underlying companies (or the managers thereof or the service providers thereto) are properly charging fees and expenses or correctly calculating and/or allocating such fees and expenses (or withholdings or other taxes or fee offsets, if applicable); rather, it will be the responsibility of such underlying Fund Investments, underlying companies, the managers thereof and the service providers thereto (including their administrators and auditors) to verify these calculations.
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INVESTMENT RELATED RISKS
This section discusses the types of investments that may be made, directly or indirectly, by the Fund, and some of the risks associated with such investments. It is possible that the Fund will make an investment that is not described below, and any such investment will be subject to its own particular risks.
Temporary Investments
Before making investments, the Fund may invest proceeds of the offering in cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities, money market funds, repurchase agreements, and other high-quality debt instruments maturing in one year or less from the time of investment (“Temporary Investments”). This will produce returns that are significantly lower than the returns which the Fund expects to achieve when the Fund’s portfolio is fully invested in securities meeting the Fund’s investment objective. As a result, any distributions that the Fund pays while the Fund’s portfolio is not fully invested in securities meeting its investment objective may be lower than the distributions that the Fund may be able to pay when the Fund portfolio is fully invested in securities meeting the Fund’s investment objective.
Identification of Investments
Identification of attractive investment opportunities by the Adviser involves a high degree of uncertainty. The success of the Fund depends on the availability of appropriate investment opportunities and the ability of the Adviser to identify, select, gain access to and consummate appropriate investments. The availability of investment opportunities for the Fund generally will be subject to market conditions and the ability of the Adviser to locate investments that are available for purchase at attractive prices. There can be no assurance that suitable investments will be available, that the Fund will be able to choose, make and realize investments in any particular company, Portfolio Fund or other investment, or that the Fund will be able to fully invest its capital. The Fund may be unable to invest on acceptable terms within the time period that the Fund anticipates or at all. To the extent that any portion of the Fund’s capital is not invested, or is subject to delay before being invested, the potential return of the Fund will be diminished.
Limited Operating History of Fund Investments
Fund Investments may have limited operating histories and the information the Fund will obtain about such investments may be limited. As such, the ability of the Adviser to evaluate past performance or to validate the investment strategies of such Fund Investments will be limited. Moreover, even to the extent a Fund Investment has a longer operating history, the past investment performance of any of the Fund Investments should not be construed as an indication of the future results of such investments or the Fund, particularly as the investment professionals responsible for the performance of such investments may change over time. This risk is related to, and enhanced by, the risks created by the fact that the Adviser relies upon information provided to it by the issuer of the securities that is not, and cannot be, independently verified.
Long Term Portfolio Fund Investments; No Assurance of Investment Return
The Fund Investments will generally be long-term and illiquid in nature. Partial or complete sales, transfers, or other dispositions of investments, whether by the Fund, a Portfolio Fund or other investment, are generally not expected to occur for a number of years after an investment is made. In some cases, the Fund, a Portfolio Fund or other investment may be legally, contractually or otherwise prohibited from selling investments for a period of time or otherwise be restricted from making dispositions. Illiquidity may also result from the absence of an established market. For these and other reasons, certain investments made by the Fund, a Portfolio Fund or other investment may require a substantial length of time to liquidate. Because the realizable value of a highly illiquid investment at any given time may be less than its intrinsic value, particularly if such investment is not realized in an orderly fashion, the Fund, a Portfolio Fund or other investment may be unable to realize its investment objectives by sale or other disposition at attractive prices. Thus, there can be no assurance that the Fund, any Portfolio Fund or other investment will be able to implement its investment strategy, generate positive returns, achieve its investment objective or complete any exit strategy. An investment in the Fund should only be considered by persons who can afford a loss of their entire investment.
Failure To Obtain 17(d) Exemptive Relief
The Investment Company Act prohibits the Fund from making certain investments alongside affiliates unless it receives an order from the SEC permitting it to do so. The Fund has applied for exemptive relief from the provisions of Sections 17(d) of the Investment Company Act to invest in certain privately negotiated investment transactions alongside current or future BDCs, private funds, separate accounts, or registered investment companies that are advised by the Adviser or its affiliates or any company that is a direct or indirect, wholly- or majority-owned subsidiary of the Adviser or its affiliates, collectively, the Fund’s “co-investment affiliates,” subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. There is no assurance that the Fund or the Adviser will receive such exemptive relief, and if they are not able to obtain the exemptive relief, the Fund will not be permitted to participate in 17(d) investments. This may reduce the Fund’s ability to deploy capital and invest its assets. The Fund may be forced to invest in cash, cash equivalents or other assets that may result in lower returns than otherwise may be available through 17(d) investment opportunities.
Concentration of Investments
There are no limitations imposed by the Adviser as to the amount of Fund assets that may be invested in (i) any one Fund Investment, (ii) in Portfolio Funds or other investments managed by a particular Sponsor or its affiliates, (iii) indirectly in any single industry or (iv) in any issuer. In addition, a Portfolio Fund’s investment portfolio may consist of a limited number of companies and may be concentrated in a particular industry area or group. Accordingly, the Fund’s investment portfolio may at times be significantly concentrated, both as to managers, industries and/or individual companies. Such concentration could offer a greater potential for capital appreciation as well as increased risk of loss. Such concentration may also be expected to increase the volatility of the Fund’s investment portfolio. The Fund is, however, subject to the asset diversification requirements applicable to RICs. See “CERTAIN TAX CONSIDERATIONS.”
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Nature of Portfolio Companies
The Fund Investments will include direct and indirect investments in various companies, ventures and businesses (“Portfolio Companies”). This may include Portfolio Companies in the early phases of development, which can be highly risky due to the lack of a significant operating history, fully developed product lines, experienced management, or a proven market for their products. The Fund Investments may also include Portfolio Companies that are in a state of distress or which have a poor record, and which are undergoing restructuring or changes in management, and there can be no assurances that such restructuring or changes will be successful. The management of such Portfolio Companies may depend on one or two key individuals, and the loss of the services of any of such individuals may adversely affect the performance of such Portfolio Companies.
Follow-on Investments
The Fund may be called upon to provide additional funding and/or have the opportunity to increase its investment in certain of the Fund Investments. There can be no assurance that the Fund will seek such follow-on investments or that it will have sufficient capital to make any such investments that become available. Any decision by the Fund not to make follow-on investments or its inability to make such investments may have a substantial negative impact on a Portfolio Fund or other investment in need of such an investment and may diminish the Fund’s ability to influence the Portfolio Fund’s or other investment’s future development. Furthermore, no assurance can be made that any follow-on investments made by the Fund will be profitable to the Fund.
Control Positions
The Fund (in the case of direct investments) and the Portfolio Funds may take control positions in Portfolio Companies. The exercise of control over a company imposes additional risks of liability for environmental damage, product defects, failure to supervise management, violation of governmental regulations and other types of liability in which the limited liability characteristic of a corporation may be ignored, which would increase the Fund’s possibility of incurring losses.
Leverage
The Sponsors and (subject to applicable law) the Fund may employ leverage through borrowings or derivative instruments and are likely to directly or indirectly acquire interests in companies with highly leveraged capital structures. If income and appreciation on investments made with borrowed funds are less than the cost of the leverage, the value of the relevant portfolio or investment will decrease. Accordingly, any event that adversely affects the value of a Fund Investment will be magnified to the extent leverage is employed. The cumulative effect of the use of leverage by the Fund, other Fund Investments and/or Portfolio Companies in a market that moves adversely to the relevant investments could result in substantial losses, exceeding those that would have been incurred if leverage had not been employed.
Derivative Instruments
Some or all of the Sponsors (subject to applicable law) and the Fund may use options, swaps, futures contracts, forward agreements and other derivatives contracts. Transactions in derivative instruments present risks arising from the use of leverage (which increases the magnitude of losses), volatility, the possibility of default by a counterparty, and illiquidity. Use of derivative instruments for hedging or speculative purposes by the Fund or the Sponsors could present significant risks, including the risk of losses in excess of the amounts invested. See “INVESTMENT RELATED RISKS—Hedging.”
Interest Rate Risk
The Fund is subject to financial market risks, including changes in interest rates. General interest rate fluctuations, including in particular rapidly rising interest rates, may have a substantial negative impact on the Fund Investments and the Fund. For example, certain Fund Investments may have exposure to floating rate loans. In the event of a significant rising interest rate environment, borrowers with such loans could see their payments increase, which could lead to a significant increase in defaults. Fund Investments in companies with adjustable-rate loans may also decline in value in response to rising interest rates if the rates at which they pay interest do not rise as much, or as quickly, as market interest rates in general. Similarly, during periods of rising interest rates, Fund Investments with exposure to fixed-rate loans may decline in value because they are locked in at below market yield. In addition, an increase in interest rates would make it more expensive to use debt for the financing needs of the Fund and the Fund Investments, if any. These and other interest rate-related developments, including without limitation the expected discontinuation of the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), could also have a material adverse impact on the Fund’s ability to meet its investment objectives.
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Non-U.S. Investments
The Fund and the Portfolio Funds may invest in securities of companies and other issuers located outside of the United States. Investing outside of the United States involves certain considerations not usually associated with investing in securities of U.S. companies, including political and economic considerations, such as greater risks of expropriation, nationalization, confiscatory taxation, imposition of withholding or other taxes on interest, dividends, capital gains, other income or gross sale or disposition proceeds, limitations on the removal of assets and general social, political and economic instability; the relatively small size of the securities markets in certain countries; differing laws and regulations applicable to the securities and financial services industries of certain countries; fluctuations in the rate of exchange between currencies and costs associated with currency conversion; government policies that may restrict the Fund’s investment opportunities; and accounting and financial reporting standards that may not be as high as comparable U.S. standards. The Fund and the Portfolio Funds may be unable to structure any such non-U.S. transactions to achieve the intended results or to sufficiently mitigate risks associated with such markets.
Currency Risk
The Fund’s portfolio may include direct and indirect investments in a number of different currencies. Any returns on, and the value of such investments may, therefore, be materially affected by exchange rate fluctuations, local exchange control, limited liquidity of the relevant foreign exchange markets, the convertibility of the currencies in question and/or other factors. A decline in the value of the currencies in which the Fund Investments are denominated against the U.S. Dollar may result in a decrease the Fund’s net asset value. The Adviser may or may not elect to hedge the value of investments made by the Fund against currency fluctuations, and even if the Adviser deems hedging appropriate, it may not be possible, practicable or cost-effective to hedge currency risk exposure. Accordingly, the performance of the Fund could be adversely affected by such currency fluctuations.
Hedging
The Fund may seek to hedge against interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations and credit risk by using structured financial instruments such as futures, options, swaps and forward contracts, subject to the requirements of the Investment Company Act. Use of structured financial instruments for hedging purposes may present significant risks, including the risk of loss of the amounts invested. Defaults by the other party to a hedging transaction can result in losses in the hedging transaction. Hedging activities also involve the risk of an imperfect correlation between the hedging instrument and the asset being hedged, which could result in losses both on the hedging transaction and on the instrument being hedged. Use of hedging activities may not prevent significant losses and could increase losses. Further, hedging transactions may reduce cash available to pay distributions to Shareholders. See “INVESTMENT RELATED RISKS—Derivative Instruments.”
Risks Relating to Accounting, Auditing and Financial Reporting, etc.
The legal, regulatory, disclosure, accounting, auditing and reporting standards in certain of the countries in which the Fund Investments may be made (whether directly or indirectly) may be less stringent and may not provide the same degree of protection or information to investors as would generally apply in the United States. Although the Fund will be using U.S. GAAP, the assets, liabilities, profits and losses appearing in published financial statements of the Fund Investments may not reflect their financial position or operating results as they would be reflected under U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, the net asset value of the Fund published from time to time may not accurately reflect a realistic value for any or all of the Fund Investments. In addition, privately held companies may not have third-party debt ratings or audited financial statements. As a result, the Fund must rely on the ability of the Adviser to obtain adequate information through due diligence to evaluate the creditworthiness and potential returns from investing in a privately held company. These companies and their financial information will generally not be subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) and other rules and regulations that govern public companies. If the Fund is unable to uncover all material information about these companies, it may not make a fully informed investment decision, and the Fund may lose money as a result. Finally, certain Fund Investments may be in Portfolio Companies or other investments that do not maintain internal management accounts or adopt financial budgeting, internal audit or internal control procedures to standards normally expected of companies in the United States. Accordingly, information supplied to the Fund and the Portfolio Funds may be incomplete, inaccurate and/or significantly delayed. The Fund and the Portfolio Funds may therefore be unable to take or influence timely actions necessary to rectify management deficiencies in such Portfolio Companies, which may ultimately have an adverse impact on the net asset value of the Fund.
Risks SPECIFIC to Portfolio Funds
Investments in the Portfolio Funds Generally; Dependence on Sponsors
Because the Fund invests in Portfolio Funds, a Shareholder’s investment in the Fund will be affected by the investment policies and decisions of the Sponsor of each Portfolio Fund in direct proportion to the amount of Fund assets that are invested in each Portfolio Fund. The Fund’s net asset value may fluctuate in response to, among other things, various market and economic factors related to the markets in which the Portfolio Funds invest and the financial condition and prospects of issuers in which the Portfolio Funds invest. Certain risks related to the investment strategies and techniques utilized by the Sponsors are described under “INVESTMENT RELATED RISKS” above. The success of the Fund depends upon the ability of the Sponsors to develop and implement strategies that achieve their investment objectives. Shareholders will not have an opportunity to evaluate the specific investments made by the Portfolio Funds or the Sponsors, or the terms of any such investments. In addition, the Sponsors could materially alter their investment strategies from time to time without notice to the Fund. There can be no assurance that the Sponsors will be able to select or implement successful strategies or achieve their respective investment objectives.
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Portfolio Funds Not Registered
The Fund is registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. The Investment Company Act is designed to afford various protections to investors in pooled investment vehicles. For example, the Investment Company Act imposes limits on the amount of leverage that a registered investment company can assume, restricts layering of costs and fees, restricts transactions with affiliated persons and requires that the investment company’s operations be supervised by a board of managers, a majority of whose members are independent of management. However, most of the Portfolio Funds in which the Fund invests are not subject to the provisions of the Investment Company Act. Many Sponsors may not be registered as investment advisers under the Advisers Act. As an indirect investor in the Portfolio Funds managed by Sponsors that are not registered as investment advisers, the Fund will not have the benefit of certain of the protections of the Advisers Act.
The Portfolio Funds generally are exempted from regulation under the Investment Company Act because they permit investment only by investors who meet very high thresholds of investment experience and sophistication, as measured by net worth. The Fund’s investment qualification thresholds are generally lower. As a result, the Fund provides an avenue for investing in Portfolio Funds that would not otherwise be available to certain investors. This means that investors who would not otherwise qualify to invest in largely unregulated vehicles will have the opportunity to make such an investment through the Fund.
In addition, the Portfolio Funds typically do not maintain their securities and other assets in the custody of a bank or a member of a securities exchange, as generally required of registered investment companies, in accordance with certain SEC rules. A registered investment company which places its securities in the custody of a member of a securities exchange is required to have a written custodian agreement, which provides that securities held in custody will be at all times individually segregated from the securities of any other person and marked to clearly identify such securities as the property of such investment company and which contains other provisions designed to protect the assets of such investment company. The Portfolio Funds in which the Fund will invest may maintain custody of their assets with brokerage firms which do not separately segregate such customer assets as would be required in the case of registered investment companies, or may not use a custodian to hold their assets. Under the provisions of the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970, as amended, the bankruptcy of any brokerage firm used to hold Portfolio Fund assets could have a greater adverse effect on the Fund than would be the case if custody of assets were maintained in accordance with the requirements applicable to registered investment companies. There is also a risk that a Sponsor could convert assets committed to it by the Fund to its own use or that a custodian could convert assets committed to it by a Sponsor to its own use. There can be no assurance that the Sponsors or the entities they manage will comply with all applicable laws and that assets entrusted to the Sponsors will be protected.
Prospective investors should understand that the Fund is an appropriate investment only for investors who can tolerate a high degree of risk, including lesser regulatory protections in connection with the Fund’s investments in Portfolio Funds than might normally be available through investments in registered investment company vehicles.
Portfolio Funds are Generally Non-Diversified
While there are no regulatory requirements that the investments of the Portfolio Funds be diversified, some Portfolio Funds may undertake to comply with certain investment concentration limits. Portfolio Funds may at certain times hold large positions in a relatively limited number of investments. Portfolio Funds may target or concentrate their investments in particular markets, sectors or industries. Those Portfolio Funds that concentrate in a specific industry or target a specific sector will also be subject to the risks of that industry or sector, which may include, but are not limited to, rapid obsolescence of technology, sensitivity to regulatory changes, minimal barriers to entry and sensitivity to overall market swings. As a result, the net asset values of such Portfolio Funds may be subject to greater volatility than those of investment companies that are subject to diversification requirements and this may negatively impact the net asset value of the Fund.
Illiquidity of Portfolio Fund Interests
Interests in Portfolio Funds are typically restricted as to their transferability under U.S. federal or state or non-U.S. securities laws or under the terms and conditions of their respective governing documents and are highly illiquid. The sale of any such investments by the Fund may be possible only at substantial discounts, if at all. In addition, generally the consent of the Sponsor of such Portfolio Fund is required to facilitate any transfer or sale of an interest in the Portfolio Fund, which consent may be withheld in the discretion of such Sponsor, whether reasonable or not. The underlying investments of Portfolio Funds are also generally illiquid and subject to similar limitations. All such investments may be extremely difficult to value with any degree of certainty.
Portfolio Fund Operations Not Transparent
The Adviser does not control the investments or operations of the Portfolio Funds. A Sponsor may employ investment strategies that differ from its past practices and are not fully disclosed to the Adviser and that involve risks that are not anticipated by the Adviser. Some Sponsors may have a limited operating history, and some may have limited experience in executing one or more investment strategies to be employed for a Portfolio Fund. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that the information and/or reports given to the Administrator, the Adviser and/or the Fund with respect to the Fund Investments will not be fraudulent, inaccurate, misleading or incomplete.
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Valuation of the Fund’s Interests in Portfolio Funds
The valuation of the Fund’s investments in Portfolio Funds is ordinarily determined based upon valuations provided by the Sponsors of such Portfolio Funds which valuations are generally not audited. A majority of the securities in which the Portfolio Funds invest will not have a readily ascertainable market price and will be valued by the Sponsors. In this regard, a Sponsor may face a conflict of interest in valuing the securities, as their value may affect the Sponsor’s compensation or its ability to raise additional funds. No assurances can be given regarding the valuation methodology or the sufficiency of systems utilized by any Portfolio Fund, the accuracy of the valuations provided by the Portfolio Funds, that the Portfolio Funds will comply with their own internal policies or procedures for keeping records or making valuations, or that the Portfolio Funds’ policies and procedures and systems will not change without notice to the Fund. As a result, valuations of the securities may be subjective and could prove in hindsight to have been wrong, potentially by significant amounts. Subject to its oversight, the Board has delegated responsibility for the valuation of Fund Investments to the Adviser. The valuation of the Fund’s investments will be performed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification 820 — Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures; but the Adviser may face conflicts of interest in overseeing the valuation of the Fund Investments, as the value of the Fund Investments will affect the Adviser’s compensation. Moreover, the Adviser will generally not have sufficient information in order to be able to confirm or review the accuracy of valuations provided by Sponsors.
A Sponsor’s information could be inaccurate due to fraudulent activity, misvaluation or inadvertent error. In any case, the Fund may not uncover errors for a significant period of time. Even if the Adviser elects to cause the Fund to sell its interests in such a Portfolio Fund, the Fund may be unable to sell such interests quickly, if at all, and could therefore be obligated to continue to hold such interests for an extended period of time. In such a case, the Sponsor’s valuations of such interests could remain subject to such fraud or error, and the Adviser may, in its discretion, determine to discount the value of the interests or value them at zero.
Shareholders should be aware that situations involving uncertainties as to the valuations by Sponsors could have a material adverse effect on the Fund if a Sponsor’s, the Adviser’s or the Fund’s judgments regarding valuations should prove incorrect. Prospective investors who are unwilling to assume such risks should not invest in the Fund.
Multiple Levels of Fees and Expenses
Although in many cases investor access to the Portfolio Funds may be limited or unavailable, an investor who meets the conditions imposed by a Portfolio Fund may be able to invest directly with the Portfolio Fund. By investing in Portfolio Funds indirectly through the Fund, the investor bears asset-based and performance-based fees charged by the Fund, in addition to any asset-based fees and performance-based fees and allocations at the Portfolio Fund level. Moreover, an investor in the Fund bears a proportionate share of the fees and expenses of the Fund (including, among other things and as applicable, offering expenses, operating costs, sales charges, brokerage transaction expenses, management fees, distribution fees, administrative and custody fees, and tender offer expenses) and, indirectly, similar expenses of the Portfolio Funds. Thus, an investor in the Fund may be subject to higher operating expenses than if he or she invested in a Portfolio Fund directly or in a closed-end fund which did not invest through Portfolio Funds.
Each Portfolio Fund generally will be subject to a performance-based fee or allocation irrespective of the performance of other Portfolio Funds and the Fund generally. Accordingly, the Sponsor of a Portfolio Fund with positive performance may receive performance-based compensation from the Portfolio Fund, and thus indirectly from the Fund and its Shareholders, even if the overall performance of the Fund is negative. Generally, asset-based fees payable to Sponsors of the Portfolio Funds will range from 1% to 2.5% (annualized) of the commitment amount of the Fund’s investment, and performance-based fees or allocations are typically 10% to 20%, although it is possible that such amounts may be exceeded for certain Sponsors. The performance-based compensation received by a Sponsor also may create an incentive for that Sponsor to make investments that are riskier or more speculative than those that it might have made in the absence of such performance-based compensation.
Investors that invest in the Fund through financial advisers or intermediaries may also be subject to account fees or charges levied by such parties. Prospective investors should consult with their respective financial advisers or intermediaries for information regarding any fees or charges that may be associated with the services provided by such parties.
Inability to Vote
To the extent that the Fund owns less than 5% of the voting securities of each Portfolio Fund, it may be able to avoid that any such Portfolio Fund is deemed an “affiliated person” of the Fund for purposes of the Investment Company Act (which designation could, among other things, potentially impose limits on transactions with the Portfolio Funds, both by the Fund and other clients of the Adviser). To limit its voting interest in certain Portfolio Funds, the Fund may enter into contractual arrangements under which the Fund irrevocably waives its rights (if any) to vote its interests in a Portfolio Fund. These voting waiver arrangements may increase the ability of the Fund and other clients of the Adviser to invest in certain Portfolio Funds. However, to the extent the Fund contractually forgoes the right to vote the securities of a Portfolio Fund, the Fund will not be able to vote on matters that require the approval of such Portfolio Fund’s investors, including matters which may be adverse to the Fund’s interests. Under other statutory tests of affiliation (such as on the basis of control), the prohibitions of the Investment Company Act with respect to affiliated transactions could apply in certain situations where the Fund owns less than 5% of the voting securities of a Portfolio Fund. If the Fund is considered to be affiliated with a Portfolio Fund, transactions between the Fund and such Portfolio Fund may, among other things, potentially be subject to the prohibitions of Section 17 of the Investment Company Act notwithstanding that the Fund has entered into a voting waiver arrangement.
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Consortium or Offsetting Investments
The Sponsors may invest in consortia, which could result in increased concentration risk where the Fund and one or more Portfolio Funds in the Fund’s portfolio each invest in a particular underlying company. In other situations, Portfolio Funds may hold economically offsetting positions. To the extent that the Sponsors do, in fact, hold such offsetting positions, the Fund’s portfolio, considered as a whole, may not achieve any gain or loss despite incurring fees and expenses in connection with such positions. In addition, Sponsors are compensated based on the performance of their portfolios. Accordingly, there often may be times when a particular Sponsor may receive incentive compensation in respect of its portfolio for a period even though the Fund’s net asset values may have decreased during such period. Furthermore, it is possible that from time to time, various Sponsors selected by the Adviser may be competing with each other for investments in one or more markets.
Limitations on Ability to Invest in Portfolio Funds
Certain Sponsors’ investment approaches can accommodate only a certain amount of capital. Sponsors typically endeavor not to undertake to manage more capital than their approach can accommodate without risking a potential deterioration in returns. Accordingly, each Sponsor has the right to refuse to accept some or all of the assets that the Adviser may wish to allocate to such Sponsor. Further, continued sales of Shares would dilute the indirect participation of existing Shareholders in investments managed by such Sponsor.
In addition, it is expected that the Fund will be able to make investments in particular Portfolio Funds only at certain times, and commitments to Portfolio Funds may not be accepted (in part or in their entirety). As a result, the Fund may hold cash or invest any portion of its assets that is not invested in Portfolio Funds, in cash equivalents, short-term securities or money market securities pending investment in Portfolio Funds. To the extent that the Fund’s assets are not invested in Portfolio Funds, the Fund may be unable to meet its investment objective.
Indemnification of Portfolio Funds and Sponsors
The Fund may agree to indemnify certain of the Portfolio Funds and Sponsors and their respective officers, directors, and affiliates from any liability, damage, cost, or expense arising out of, among other things, acts or omissions undertaken in connection with the management of Portfolio Funds or direct investments. If the Fund were required to make payments (or return distributions received from such Portfolio Funds or direct investments) in respect of any such indemnity, the Fund could be materially adversely affected.
Termination of the Fund’s Interest in a Portfolio Fund
In certain circumstances, a Portfolio Fund may, among other things, terminate the Fund’s interest therein (causing a forfeiture of all or a portion of such interest) if the Fund fails to satisfy any capital call by that Portfolio Fund or if the continued participation of the Fund in the Portfolio Fund would have a material adverse effect on the Portfolio Fund or its assets.
Portfolio Funds Tax Risk
Certain tax risks associated with investing in the Portfolio Funds are discussed below in “TAX RELATED RISKS”.
Risks Applicable to Other Fund Investments
Certain of the risks described above in the section may also apply to other types of Fund Investments.
RISKS SPECIFIC TO SECONDARY INVESTMENTS
General Risks of Secondary Investments
The overall performance of the Fund’s Secondary Investments will depend in large part on the acquisition price paid, which may be negotiated based on incomplete or imperfect information. Certain Secondary Investments may be purchased as a portfolio, and in such cases the Fund may not be able to exclude from such purchases those investments that the Adviser considers (for commercial, tax, legal or other reasons) less attractive. Similarly, certain Secondary Investments may require the Fund to make a concurrent primary commitment to a new Portfolio Fund, which commitment the Adviser may consider to be less attractive than the other assets to be acquired. Where the Fund acquires a Portfolio Fund interest as a secondary investment, the Fund will generally not have the ability to modify or amend such Portfolio Fund’s constituent documents (e.g., limited partnership agreements) or otherwise negotiate the economic terms of the interests being acquired. In addition, the costs and resources required to investigate the commercial, tax and legal issues relating to Secondary Investments may be greater than those relating to Primary Investments.
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Contingent Liabilities Associated with Secondary Investments
Where the Fund acquires a Portfolio Fund interest as a secondary investment, the Fund may acquire contingent liabilities of the seller of such interest. More specifically, where the seller has received distributions from the relevant private equity fund and, subsequently, that private equity fund recalls one or more of these distributions, the Fund (as the purchaser of the interest to which such distributions are attributable and not the seller) may be obligated to return monies equivalent to such distributions to such private equity fund. While the Fund may, in turn, make a claim against the seller for any such monies so paid to the private equity fund, there can be no assurances that the Fund would prevail on such claim.
Risks Relating to Secondary Investments Involving Syndicates
The Fund may acquire Secondary Investments as a member of a purchasing syndicate, in which case the Fund may be exposed to additional risks including (among other things): (i) counterparty risk, (ii) reputation risk, (iii) breach of confidentiality by a syndicate member and (iv) execution risk.
TAX RELATED RISKS
Failure to Qualify as a RIC or Satisfy Distribution Requirement
To qualify for and maintain RIC qualification under the Code, the Fund must meet the following annual distribution, source-of-income and asset diversification requirements. See “CERTAIN TAX CONSIDERATIONS.”
| · | The annual distribution requirement for a RIC will be satisfied if the Fund distributes to Shareholders on an annual basis at least 90% of the Fund’s net ordinary income and realized net short-term capital gains in excess of realized net long-term capital losses, if any. Because the Fund may borrow, it is subject to an asset coverage ratio requirement under the Investment Company Act and may in the future become subject to certain financial covenants under loan and credit agreements that could, under certain circumstances, restrict the Fund from making distributions necessary to satisfy the distribution requirement. If the Fund is unable to obtain cash from other sources, it could fail to qualify for RIC tax treatment and thus become subject to corporate-level income tax. |
| · | The source-of-income requirement will be satisfied if the Fund obtains at least 90% of its income for each year from dividends, interest, gains from the sale of stock or securities or similar passive sources. If the source-of-income requirement is not met the Fund may fail to qualify for RIC tax treatment and be subject to corporate income tax. |
| · | The asset diversification requirement will be satisfied if the Fund meets certain asset diversification requirements at the end of each quarter of the Fund’s tax year. To satisfy this requirement, (i) at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s assets must consist of cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities if such other securities of any one issuer do not represent more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s assets or more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) no more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s assets can be invested in the securities, other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs, of one issuer, of two or more issuers that are controlled, as determined under the Code and its applicable regulations, by the Fund and that are engaged in the same or similar or related trades or businesses or of certain “qualified publicly traded partnerships.” Failure to meet these requirements may result in the Fund having to dispose of certain investments quickly in order to prevent the loss of its qualification as a RIC. Because most of the Fund’s investments will be in private companies, and therefore will be relatively illiquid, any such dispositions could be made at disadvantageous prices and could result in substantial losses. |
If the Fund fails to qualify for or maintain RIC tax treatment for any reason and is subject to corporate income tax, the resulting corporate taxes could substantially reduce the Fund’s net assets, the amount of income available for distribution and the amount of the Fund’s distributions.
Difficulty Meeting RIC Distribution Requirement
Each of the above ongoing requirements for qualification for the favorable tax treatment available to RICs requires that the Adviser obtain information from or about the Portfolio Funds in which the Fund is invested. However, Portfolio Funds generally are not obligated to disclose the contents of their portfolios. This lack of transparency may make it difficult for the Adviser to monitor the sources of the Fund’s income and the diversification of its assets, and otherwise to comply with Subchapter M of the Code. Ultimately, this may limit the universe of Portfolio Funds in which the Fund can invest.
Portfolio Funds classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes may generate income allocable to the Fund that is not qualifying income for purposes of the source-of-income requirement, described above. In order to meet the source-of-income requirement, the Fund may structure its investments in a way potentially increasing the taxes imposed thereon or in respect thereof. Because the Fund may not have timely or complete information concerning the amount and sources of such a Portfolio Fund’s income until such income has been earned by the Portfolio Fund or until a substantial amount of time thereafter, it may be difficult for the Fund to satisfy source-of-income requirement.
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In the event that the Fund believes that it is possible that it will fail the asset diversification requirement at the end of any quarter of a taxable year, it may seek to take certain actions to avert such failure, including by acquiring additional investments to come into compliance with the asset diversification tests or by disposing of non-diversified assets. Although the Code affords the Fund the opportunity, in certain circumstances, to cure a failure to meet the asset diversification test, including by disposing of non-diversified assets within six months, there may be constraints on the Fund’s ability to dispose of its interest in a Fund Investment that limit utilization of this cure period. Because the Fund’s allocable portion of a Fund Investment’s taxable income will be included in the Fund’s investment company taxable income for the year of the accrual, the Fund may be required to make a distribution to Shareholders in order to satisfy the annual distribution requirement, even though the Fund will not have received any corresponding cash amount. As a result, the Fund may have difficulty meeting the annual distribution requirement necessary to qualify for and maintain its qualification as a RIC under the Code. The Fund may have to sell some of its investments at times and/or at prices the Fund would not consider advantageous, raise additional debt or equity capital or forgo new investment opportunities for this purpose. If the Fund is not able to obtain cash from other sources, the Fund may fail to qualify for or maintain RIC tax treatment and thus become subject to corporate-level income tax. For additional discussion regarding the tax implications of a RIC, see “CERTAIN TAX CONSIDERATIONS.”
GENERAL RISKS
Legal, Tax and Regulatory Changes
Legal, tax and regulatory changes could occur during the term of the Fund which may materially adversely affect the Fund. For example, the regulatory and tax environment for leveraged investors and for private markets funds generally is evolving, and changes in the direct or indirect regulation or taxation of leveraged investors or private markets funds may materially adversely affect the ability of the Fund to pursue its investment strategies or achieve its investment objective. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) was signed into law on July 21, 2010 and significantly revises and expands the rulemaking, supervisory and enforcement authority of U.S. federal bank, securities and commodities regulators. The implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act requires the adoption of various regulations and the preparation of reports by various agencies over a period of time. It is unclear how these regulators will exercise these revised and expanded powers and whether they will undertake rulemaking, supervisory or enforcement actions that would adversely affect the Fund or investments made by the Fund. There can be no assurance that future regulatory actions authorized by the Dodd-Frank Act will not significantly reduce the profitability of the Fund. The implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act could adversely affect the Fund by increasing transaction and/or regulatory compliance costs. In October 2020, the SEC adopted new regulations governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. The Fund will be required to implement and comply with new Rule 18f-4 by the third quarter of 2022. Once implemented, Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives a fund can enter into, eliminate the asset segregation framework currently used by funds to comply with Section 18 of the Investment Company Act, treat derivatives as senior securities so that a failure to comply with the limits would result in a statutory violation and require funds whose use of derivatives is more than a limited specified exposure to establish and maintain a comprehensive derivatives risk management program and appoint a derivatives risk manager. The nature of the final regulation is uncertain at this time, but the Fund may have difficulty adjusting its investment portfolio and strategy in order to comply with such regulations. In addition, greater regulatory scrutiny may increase the Fund’s and the Adviser’s exposure to potential liabilities. Increased regulatory oversight can also impose administrative burdens on the Fund and the Adviser, including, without limitation, responding to examinations or investigations and implementing new policies and procedures. Certain tax risks associated with an investment in the Fund are discussed in “CERTAIN TAX CONSIDERATIONS.”
Systemic Risk
Systemic risk is the risk of broad financial system stress or collapse triggered by the default of one or more financial institutions, which results in a series of defaults by other interdependent financial institutions. Financial intermediaries, such as clearing houses, banks, securities firms and exchanges with which the Fund interacts, as well as the Fund, are all subject to systemic risk. A systemic failure could have material adverse consequences on the Fund and on the markets for the Securities in which the Fund seeks to invest.
Business, Terrorism and Catastrophe Risks
The Fund may be subject to the risk of loss arising from exposure that it may incur, indirectly, due to the occurrence of various events, including hurricanes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters, terrorism, pandemic and/or other catastrophic events. These risks of loss can be substantial and could have a material adverse effect on the Fund and the Shareholders’ investments therein. It is not possible to predict any such events or the severity of the effect that any such activity and/or governmental or military response would have on the economic situation in the United States or in other jurisdictions.
Cybersecurity Risk
The Adviser and other service providers of the Fund process, store and transmit large amounts of electronic information, including information relating to the transactions of the Fund and personally identifiable information of Shareholders. The Adviser has procedures and systems in place that it believes are reasonably designed to protect such information and prevent data loss and security breaches, but such measures cannot provide absolute security. The techniques used to obtain unauthorized access to data, disable or degrade service, or sabotage systems change frequently and may be difficult to detect for long periods of time. Hardware or software acquired from third parties may contain defects in design or manufacture or other problems that could unexpectedly compromise information security. Network connected services provided by third parties to the Adviser may be susceptible to compromise, leading to a breach of the Adviser’s network. The Adviser’s systems or facilities, on-line services and/or the Fund’s accounts may be susceptible to employee error or malfeasance, government surveillance, or other security threats. Breach of the Adviser’s information systems or the Fund’s accounts may cause information relating to the transactions of the Fund and personally identifiable information of the Shareholders to be lost or improperly accessed, used or disclosed. The service providers of the Adviser and the Fund are subject to the same electronic information security threats as the Adviser. If a service provider fails to adopt or adhere to adequate data security policies, or in the event of a breach of its networks, information relating to the transactions of the Fund and personally identifiable information of the Shareholders may be lost or improperly accessed, used or disclosed. The loss or improper access, use or disclosure of the Adviser’s or the Fund’s proprietary information may cause the Adviser or the Fund to suffer, among other things, financial loss, the disruption of its business, liability to third parties, regulatory intervention or reputational damage. Any of the foregoing events could have a material adverse effect on the Fund and/or the Shareholders.
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Recent Market Events
A recent outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus was first detected in December 2019 and has spread internationally. The outbreak and efforts to contain its spread have resulted in closed borders and quarantines, restricted international and domestic travel, enhanced health screenings, cancellations, disrupted supply chains and customer activity, layoffs and business closures, and general concern and uncertainty. The impact of the coronavirus pandemic, and other epidemics and pandemics that may arise in the future, could adversely affect national and global economies, individual companies and the market in general in a manner and for a period of time that cannot be foreseen at the present time. Health crises caused by the recent outbreak may heighten other preexisting political, social and economic risks in a country or region. Changes to fiscal and monetary policy may adversely affect the value, volatility and liquidity of the Fund Investments. Although multiple asset classes may be affected by a market disruption, the duration and effects may not be the same for all types of assets. To the extent the Fund has relatively higher exposure to certain companies, industries, market sectors or geographic regions, it will have commensurately higher risk of loss from adverse developments affecting those countries, companies, industries or sectors. In the event of a pandemic or an outbreak of disease, the Fund and its service providers may be unable to maintain normal business operations for an extended period of time due to the loss of key personnel or for other reasons. Any or all of these conditions could have a material adverse effect on the Fund and/or the Fund Investments and prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objectives.
LIMITS OF RISKS DISCLOSURE
The above discussions and the discussions in the SAI relate to the various known risks associated with the Fund, Fund Investments, and Shares. Prospective investors should read this entire Prospectus, the SAI, and the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, and should consult the Adviser’s ADV for additional information, as well as consult with their own advisers before deciding whether to invest in the Fund. In addition, as the Fund’s investment program or market conditions change or develop over time, an investment in the Fund may be subject to risk factors not currently contemplated or described in this Prospectus.
In view of the risks noted above, the Fund should be considered a speculative investment and prospective investors should invest in the Fund only if they can sustain a complete loss of their investment.
No guarantee or representation is made that the investment program of the Fund will be successful, that the various Portfolio Funds or Fund Investments selected will produce positive returns, or that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
The Board of Trustees
The Board has overall responsibility for the management and supervision of the business operations of the Fund on behalf of the Shareholders. A majority of Trustees of the Board are and will be persons who are not “interested persons,” as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act (the “Independent Trustees”). To the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act and other applicable law, the Board may delegate any of its rights, powers and authority to, among others, the officers of the Fund, any committee of the Board, service providers or the Adviser. See “BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS” in the Fund’s SAI for the identities of the Trustees and executive officers of the Fund, brief biographical information regarding each of them, and other information regarding the election and membership of the Board.
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The Adviser
Portfolio Advisors, LLC, an investment adviser registered with the SEC under the Advisers Act, serves as the Adviser of the Fund and is responsible for determining and implementing the Fund’s overall investment strategy. The Adviser’s principal address is 9 Old Kings Highway South, Darien, Connecticut 06820.
Portfolio Advisors is an independent investment firm specializing in private equity, private credit and private real estate investments. Since its founding in 1994, Portfolio Advisors has invested and committed more than $60 billion across private markets through various investment programs on behalf of both institutional and private clients worldwide. As of December 31, 2020, Portfolio Advisors and its affiliates employed 112 people and managed approximately $30.6 billion in assets across direct, secondary and primary investments for more than 100 clients. With investments in more than 2,100 funds managed by more than 650 Sponsors, Portfolio Advisors has developed deep relationships, experience, insight and deal flow across the private markets, all of which it believes will benefit the Fund. Portfolio Advisors is an independent, employee owned investment firm.
The Adviser and its affiliates may serve as investment managers to other funds that have investment programs that are similar to the investment program of the Fund, and the Adviser or one of its affiliates may in the future serve as the investment manager or otherwise manage or direct the investment activities of other registered and/or private investment companies with investment programs similar to the investment program of the Fund. See “CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.”
Adviser Management Team
The personnel of the Adviser who currently have primary responsibility for management of the Fund are:
Kenneth G. Binick, Co-Head Equity Co-Investments. Ken joined Portfolio Advisors in 2008 and has 15 years of private markets experience. Prior to joining Portfolio Advisors, he worked in the leveraged finance groups of both CIBC World Markets and Morgan Stanley, where he focused on middle-market and large-cap leveraged buyout transactions. Prior to investment banking, Ken was at CallStreet, a financial technology start-up. Ken holds a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from Vanderbilt University.
Elizabeth M. Campbell, Primary Investments, Executive Committee. Liz joined Portfolio Advisors in 2013 and has 13 years of private markets experience. Prior to joining Portfolio Advisors, she was responsible for due diligence, project management, and market research at Stanwich Advisors, a boutique investment bank specializing in capital raising and advisory services for private equity funds. Liz holds a B.A. from Middlebury College.
Dan Cohn-Sfetcu, CFA, Head Senior Credit Investments, Executive Committee. Dan joined Portfolio Advisors in 2018 and has 18 years of private markets experience. Prior to joining Portfolio Advisors, he spent three years as a managing director in the private credit team at the Carlyle Group. Previously, Dan spent twelve years investing in middle-market private equity and credit with American Capital, Richardson Capital, and Brookstone Partners. Dan holds a B.Com from Queen's University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Gregory J. Garrett, Head Primary Investments. Greg joined Portfolio Advisors in 2010 and has 20 years of private markets experience. Prior to joining Portfolio Advisors, he was a partner at Adams Street Partners and a member of its primary investment team. Previously, Greg was a manager at the Boston Consulting Group and a captain in the United States Air Force commanding aircraft in support of international military operations. Greg holds a B.S. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School.
Scott Higbee, Global Co-Head Markets, Management Committee. Scott joined Portfolio Advisors in 2020 and has 20 years of private markets experience. Prior to joining Portfolio Advisors, he was a senior managing director at GoldPoint Partners, where he led global capital raising for mid-market equity and credit strategies for four years. Previously, Scott was a partner at Partners Group, where he led business development and capital raising in the Americas for more than 14 years. Scott holds both a B.S. and an M.B.A. from Brigham Young University.
John M. Kyles, Head Credit Strategies, Chief Operating Officer, Executive Committee. John joined Portfolio Advisors in 2009 and has 24 years of private markets experience. Prior to joining Portfolio Advisors, he was a director at Citigroup, where he structured and executed more than $6 billion in private placements for public and private companies in a variety of industries. John holds a B.A. from Bucknell University, a J.D. from DePaul University College of Law, and an M.B.A. from Cornell University, where he was a Park Fellow.
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Brooks Lindberg, Head Registered Products, Management Committee. Brooks joined Portfolio Advisors in 2020 and has 21 years of private markets experience. Prior to joining Portfolio Advisors, he spent five years as an operating partner and investor in several private companies. Previously, he was a partner at Partners Group, where he led structuring, marketing and operations for an SEC-registered private equity fund. While at Partners Group, he served in various roles including head distribution partners, head structuring services and co-head real estate. Brooks holds a B.S. from the University of Florida and an M.B.A. from Brigham Young University, where he was a Hawes Scholar.
Brian Mooney, CFA, Co-Head GP Secondary Investments. Brian joined Portfolio Advisors in 2021, has 22 years of private markets experience and has advised on approximately $40 billion of secondary transactions. Prior to joining Portfolio Advisors, he was a co-founder and managing director at Cogent Partners from 2002 through its sale to Greenhill in 2015. At Greenhill, he headed GP-led secondary activities globally. Brian holds a B.B.A. from the University of Texas, an M.B.A. from Columbia University and London Business School, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Brian P. Murphy, CFA, Managing Partner, Global Co-Head Markets, Management Committee. Brian joined Portfolio Advisors in 1996 and has 32 years of private markets experience. Prior to joining Portfolio Advisors, he was a senior vice president of Morris Anderson Investment Advisors, where he co-managed a $385 million portfolio of direct and partnership investments. He started his private equity advisory career while at Chemical Bank Corporation. Brian holds a B.A. from Brigham Young University, an M.B.A. from Columbia University, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Hugh J. Perloff, Head LP Secondary Investments. Hugh joined Portfolio Advisors in 1998 and has 23 years of private markets experience. He has led the firm’s secondary investment strategy across 24 vehicles totaling more than $7 billion in total commitments. Prior to joining Portfolio Advisors, he was a senior accountant with Deloitte & Touche for five years, where he performed accounting and audit work for domestic and foreign and public and private clients. He holds a B.A. from Brown University, and an M.B.A. from the University of Connecticut.
Stephen Sloan, Global Head Secondary Investments, Management Committee. Stephen joined Portfolio Advisors in 2020, has 20 years of private markets experience and has facilitated approximately $40 billion of secondary transactions. Prior to joining Portfolio Advisors, he was a co-founder of Cogent Partners, which he led from 2002 through its sale to Greenhill in 2015. At Greenhill, he was global head of the capital advisory group and a member the management committee. Previously he was at Goldman Sachs. Stephen holds a B.S. from Brigham Young University, and both an M.A. and M.B.A. from University of Pennsylvania.
Additional information regarding these individuals’ compensation, other accounts for which they share responsibility and their holdings in the Fund (if any) can be found in the SAI.
Investment Management Agreement
The Investment Management Agreement will become effective as of the Initial Closing Date, and will continue in effect for an initial two-year term. Thereafter, the Investment Management Agreement will continue in effect from year to year provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, or a majority of the Board, and (ii) the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees of the Fund, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. See “VOTING.” The Investment Management Agreement will terminate automatically if assigned (as defined in the Investment Company Act) and is terminable at any time without penalty upon 60 days’ written notice to the Fund by either the Board or the Adviser. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Investment Management Agreement will be available in the Fund’s first report to Shareholders. In the event of termination, the investment management fee and performance allocation are payable to the Adviser through the date of removal.
The Investment Management Agreement provides that, in the absence of willful misfeasance or gross negligence of its obligations to the Fund, the Adviser and any partner, director, officer or employee of the Adviser, or any of their affiliates, executors, heirs, assigns, successors or other legal representatives, will not be liable for any error of judgment, for any mistake of law or for any act or omission by the person in connection with the performance of services to the Fund. The Investment Management Agreement also provides for indemnification, to the fullest extent permitted by law, by the Fund, of the Adviser, or any partner, director, officer or employee of the Adviser, and any of their affiliates, executors, heirs, assigns, successors or other legal representatives, against any liability or expense to which the person may be liable that arises in connection with the performance of services to the Fund, so long as the liability or expense is not incurred by reason of the person’s willful misfeasance or gross negligence of its obligations to the Fund. Such indemnification includes losses sustained by the Adviser or its affiliates as an indemnitor under any servicing or other agreement entered into by the Adviser for the benefit of the Fund to the extent that such losses relate to the Fund and the indemnity giving rise to the losses is not broader than that granted by the Fund to the Adviser or its affiliates pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement. The Fund has the right to consent before the Adviser settles or consents to the settlement of a claim involving such indemnitor losses (but such consent right will not affect the Adviser’s entitlement to indemnification).
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INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FEE
The Fund will pay the Adviser an investment management fee (the “Investment Management Fee”) in consideration of the advisory services provided by the Adviser to the Fund. Pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement, the Fund will pay an Investment Management Fee at a quarterly rate of 0.3125% (1.25%, on an annualized basis), of the Fund’s Managed Investments at the end of each calendar quarter. “Managed Investments” means the total value of the Fund’s assets (including any assets attributable to money borrowed for investment purposes) plus any unfunded investment commitments (i.e., amounts committed to Fund Investments that have not yet been drawn for investment), minus the sum of the Fund’s accrued liabilities (other than money borrowed for investment purposes), minus cash and cash equivalents. The Investment Management Fee is paid to the Adviser out of the Fund’s assets and decreases the net profits or increases the net losses of the Fund. The Investment Management Fee will be computed as of the last day of each calendar quarter and will be due and payable in arrears within fifteen business days after the end of such calendar quarter. The Adviser is also reimbursed by the Fund for out-of-pocket expenses relating to services provided to the Fund.
The Investment Management Fee is paid to the Adviser before giving effect to any repurchase of Shares in the Fund effective as of that date and will decrease the net profits or increase the net losses of the Fund that are credited to its Shareholders. The basis for the Investment Management Fee could be larger than the Fund’s net asset value due to unfunded commitments to invest in Fund Investments. Investors are advised that the actual amount of unfunded commitments will be disclosed in the Fund’s published financial statements.
A portion of the Investment Management Fee may be paid to brokers or dealers that assist in the distribution of Shares, including brokers or dealers that may be affiliated with the Adviser.
In addition, the Adviser (or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, an affiliate of the Adviser) will be entitled to receive an Incentive Fee calculated and payable quarterly in arrears equal to 10% of the excess, if any, of (i) the net profits (as defined below) of the Fund for the relevant period over (ii) the then balance, if any, of the Loss Recovery Account (as defined below). For purposes of the Incentive Fee, the term “net profits” means the amount by which the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund on the last day of the relevant period exceeds the NAV of the Fund as of the commencement of the same period, including any net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation of investments and realized income and gains or losses and expenses (which, for this purpose shall not include any distribution and/or shareholder servicing fees, litigation, any extraordinary expenses or Incentive Fee and any amount contributed to or withdrawn from the Fund by shareholders). The Fund will maintain a memorandum account (the “Loss Recovery Account”), which will have an initial balance of zero and will be (i) increased upon the close of each calendar quarter of the Fund by the amount of the net losses of the Fund for the quarter, and (ii) decreased (but not below zero) upon the close of each calendar quarter by the amount of the net profits of the Fund for the quarter. Shareholders will benefit from the Loss Recovery Account in proportion to their holdings of Shares.
Any Incentive Fee payable by the Fund that relates to an increase in value of Fund Investments may be computed and paid on gain or income that is unrealized. If a Fund Investment decreases in value, it is possible that the unrealized gain previously included in the calculation of the Incentive Fee will never be realized. The Adviser is not obligated to reimburse the Fund for any part of the Incentive Fee it received that was based on unrealized gain never realized as a result of a sale or other disposition of a Fund Investment at a lower valuation in the future, and such circumstances would result in the Fund paying an Incentive Fee on income or gain the Fund never received.
PREDECESSOR FUND PERFORMANCE
Simultaneous with the Fund’s Commencement of Operations, MVP Private Markets, L.P. (the “Predecessor Fund”) reorganized with and into the Fund. The Predecessor Fund maintained an investment objective, strategies and investment policies, guidelines and restrictions that are, in all material respects, equivalent to those of the Fund and at the time of the conversion of the Predecessor Fund was managed by the same Adviser and portfolio managers as the Fund.
The Predecessor Fund commenced operations on May 13, 2021. The performance quoted below is that of the Predecessor Fund and reflects the fees and expenses incurred by the Predecessor Fund. The performance returns of the Predecessor Fund are unaudited and are calculated by the Adviser on a total return basis. After-tax performance returns are not included for the Predecessor Fund. The Predecessor Fund was a privately placed fund and was not registered under the Investment Company Act and was not subject to certain investment limitations, diversification requirements, and other restrictions imposed by the Investment Company Act and the Code, which, if applicable, may have adversely affected its performance.
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Past performance is no indication of future returns. Because the Predecessor Fund had less than one full calendar year of performance, the average annual total return table has been omitted.
QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE (%) NET OF FEES
Third Quarter (7/1/2021 to 09/30/2021) |
| 11.63% |
DISTRIBUTOR
ALPS Distributors, Inc. (the “Distributor”), whose principal business address is 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, Colorado 80203, acts as Distributor to the Fund on a best-efforts basis, subject to various conditions, pursuant to a Distribution Agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”) between the Fund and the Distributor.
Neither the Distributor nor any other party is obligated to purchase any Shares from the Fund. There is no minimum aggregate number of Shares required to be purchased.
The Distributor may enter into agreements with selected broker-dealers, banks or other financial intermediaries for distribution of shares of the Fund. The Adviser and/or its affiliates may make payments to selected affiliated or unaffiliated third parties (including the parties who have entered into sub-distribution agreements with the Distributor) from time to time in connection with the sale of Shares and/or the services provided to Shareholders. These payments will be made out of the Adviser’s and/or its affiliates’ own assets and will not represent an additional charge to the Fund. The amount of such payments may be significant in amount and the prospect of receiving any such payments may provide such third parties or their employees with an incentive to favor sales of Shares over other investment options.
Investors who purchase shares through financial intermediaries will be subject to the procedures of those intermediaries through which they purchase shares, which may include charges, investment minimums, cutoff times and other restrictions in addition to, or different from, those listed herein. Information concerning any charges or services will be provided to customers by the financial intermediary through which they purchase shares. Investors purchasing shares of the Fund through financial intermediaries should acquaint themselves with their financial intermediary’s procedures and should read the Prospectus in conjunction with any materials and information provided by their financial intermediary. The Distributor does not receive compensation from the Fund for its distribution services, but may receive compensation for its distribution services from the Adviser. The Distribution and Service Plan will allow the Fund to pay distribution and servicing fees for the sale and servicing of its Class A Shares and Class D Shares to the Fund’s Distributor and/or other qualified recipients. The Distributor does not retain any of the distribution and servicing fees for profit.
Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor is solely responsible for the costs and expenses incurred in connection with its qualification as a broker-dealer under state or federal laws. The Distribution Agreement also provides that the Fund will indemnify the Distributor and its affiliates and certain other persons against certain liabilities. The indemnification will not apply to actions of the Distributor, its officers, or employees in cases of their willful misconduct, bad faith, reckless disregard or gross negligence in the performance of their duties.
Class A Shares and Class D Shares in the Fund are offered at their current net asset value plus a maximum sales charge of 3.50% of the subscription amount. The Fund or Adviser may elect to reduce, otherwise modify or waive (in whole or in part) the sales charge with respect to any Shareholder. No sales charge is expected to be charged with respect to investments by the Adviser and its affiliates, directors, principals, officers, employees, and others in the Fund’s sole discretion.
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN
The Fund intends to adopt a Distribution and Service Plan with respect to Class A Shares and Class D Shares in compliance with Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act. The Distribution and Service Plan will allow the Fund to pay distribution and servicing fees for the sale and servicing of its Class A Shares and Class D Shares. Under the Distribution and Service Plan, the Fund will be permitted to pay as compensation up to a maximum of 1.00% per year on Class A Shares and up to a maximum of 0.25% per year on Class D Shares on an annualized basis of the aggregate net assets of the Fund attributable to each class (the “Distribution and Servicing Fee”) to the Fund’s Distributor and/or other qualified recipients. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of an investment and may cost more than paying other types of sales charges. Class I Shares are not subject to the Distribution and Servicing Fee.
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The Distribution and Servicing Fee to be paid to the Distributor for distribution of each class of Shares under the Distribution and Service Plan is as follows:
| Class | Distribution and Service Fee |
| Class A Shares | 1.00% |
| Class I Shares | None |
| Class D Shares | 0.25% |
ADMINISTRATION
The Fund has retained the Administrator, ALPS Fund Services, Inc., whose principal business address is 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, CO 80203, to provide administrative services, and to assist with operational needs. The Administrator provides such services to the Fund pursuant to an administration agreement between the Fund and the Administrator (the “Administration Agreement”). The Administrator is responsible directly or through its agents for, among other things, providing the following services to the Fund, as applicable; (1) maintaining a list of Shareholders and generally performing all actions related to the issuance and repurchase of Shares, if any, including delivery of trade confirmations and capital statements; (2) providing certain administrative, clerical and bookkeeping services; (3) providing transfer agency services, services related to the payment of distributions, and accounting services; (4) computing the net asset value of the Fund on a monthly basis and at such other times as requested by the Adviser and/or the Fund in accordance with U.S. GAAP and the procedures defined in consultation with the Adviser; (5) assisting in the preparation of semi-annual and annual financial statements of the Fund in accordance with U.S. GAAP, quarterly reports of the operations of the Fund and information required for U.S. federal and applicable state and local income tax returns; (6) supervising regulatory compliance matters and preparing certain regulatory filings; and (7) performing additional services, as agreed upon, in connection with the administration of the Fund. The Administrator may from time to time delegate its responsibilities under the Administration Agreement to one or more parties selected by the Administrator, including its affiliates or affiliates of the Adviser with the Adviser’s consent.
In consideration for these services, the Administrator is paid a monthly fee calculated based upon the average net asset value of the Fund, subject to a minimum annual fee (the “Administration Fee”). The Administration Fee is paid to the Administrator out of the assets of the Fund and therefore decreases the net profits or increases the net losses of the Fund. The Administrator is also reimbursed by the Fund for out-of-pocket expenses relating to services provided to the Fund and receives a fee for transfer agency services. The Administration Fee and the other terms of the Administration Agreement may change from time to time as may be agreed to by the Fund and the Administrator.
The Administration Agreement provides that the Administrator’s cumulative liability to the Fund for a calendar year will be limited in relation to the fees and expenses charged by the Administrator in the relevant calendar year. In addition, the Administrator shall have no liability for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss or damage resulting from the performance or nonperformance of its duties unless solely caused by or resulting from the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the Administrator, its officers or employees. In addition, the Administrator will not be liable for any special, indirect, incidental, punitive or consequential damages, including lost profits, of any kind whatsoever (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees) under any provision of the Administration Agreement or for any such damages arising out of any act or failure to act thereunder.
The Administration Agreement also provides that the Fund shall indemnify and hold the Administrator and its directors, officers, agents, and employees harmless from all loss, cost, damage and expense, including reasonable fees and expenses for counsel, incurred by the Administrator resulting from any claim, demand, action or suit in connection with the Administrator’s acceptance of the Administration Agreement, any action or omission by the Administrator in the performance of its duties as administrator of the Fund, or as a result of acting upon instructions reasonably believed by it to have been duly authorized by the Fund or upon reasonable reliance on information or records given or made by the Fund or the Adviser. The indemnification will not apply to actions of the Administrator, its officers, or employees in cases of their own willful misconduct bad faith, reckless disregard or gross negligence in the performance of their duties.
CUSTODIAN
UMB Bank, n.a. (the “Custodian”) serves as the primary custodian of the assets of the Fund and may maintain custody of such assets with U.S. and non-U.S. sub-custodians (which may be banks and trust companies), securities depositories and clearing agencies in accordance with the requirements of Section 17(f) of the Investment Company Act and the rules thereunder. Assets of the Fund are not held by the Adviser or commingled with the assets of other accounts other than to the extent that securities are held in the name of the Custodian or U.S. or non-U.S. sub-custodians in a securities depository, clearing agency or omnibus customer account of such custodian. The Custodian’s principal business address is 1010 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64106.
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FUND EXPENSES
The Fund will pay all of its expenses and/or reimburse the Adviser or its affiliates to the extent they have previously paid such expenses on behalf of the Fund or have incurred expenses in connection with their management of the Fund. The expenses of the Fund include, but are not limited to, any fees and expenses incurred in connection with the offering and issuance of Shares; all costs, fees and expenses reasonably incurred in connection with the operation of the Fund such as direct and indirect expenses related to the due diligence, purchasing, monitoring, identifying, evaluating, investigating, negotiating, acquiring, holding, operating, selling and reporting upon Fund Investments (whether or not such investments are consummated), expenses of transactions not completed; break-up fees, expenses incurred by the Fund as a result of a default, a transfer, withdrawal or removal, legal expenses and recording fees and expenses (including, but not limited to, amendments, consents and modifications, jurisdictional filings, regulatory fees and related expenses incurred by the Fund, the Adviser, or any affiliates thereof, investment structuring (including fees, expenses and costs incurred in connection with forming and maintaining subsidiary investment vehicles), corporate actions, round-trip travel, lodging, meals and other incidentals associated with due diligence and monitoring activities and enforcing the Fund’s rights in respect of the Fund Investments; quotation or valuation expenses; investment banking and appraisal costs, expenses related to other third-party service providers, the Investment Management Fee, the Incentive Fee and the Administration Fee; brokerage commissions; escrow agent fees and expenses, all principal, interest, fees, expenses and any other amounts incurred in connection with borrowings, financings, guarantees, hedging or derivative transactions, or the provision of security interests or other collateral (including, if applicable, fees and expenses of lender’s counsel associated with such transactions, including for review of side letters); professional fees, costs and expenses for services rendered on behalf of the Fund (including, without limitation, expenses of consultants, experts and specialists, all research, market analysis, data (including Bloomberg fees, research and software expenses (including without limitation, software licensing fees) and other expenses incurred in connection with data services providing price feeds, news feeds, securities and company information and company fundamental data) and related expenses; fees and expenses of outside tax or legal counsel (including fees and expenses associated with the review of documentation for prospective investments by the Fund and compliance, operations and/or management matters relating to the Fund), including foreign counsel and secondees of third-party law firms and temporary legal staffing firms (any of which may be short-term and/or long-term arrangements); accounting, auditing and tax preparation fees and expenses; fees and expenses incurred in connection with repurchase offers and any repurchases or redemptions of Shares; taxes and governmental fees (including tax preparation fees); fees and expenses of any custodian, sub-custodian, transfer agent, and registrar, and any other agent of the Fund; all costs and charges for equipment or services used in communicating information regarding the Fund’s transactions with any custodian or other agent engaged by the Fund, as applicable; bank service fees; all unreimbursed expenses incurred in connection with the collection of amounts due to the Fund from any person or entity; expenses relating to the use of third-party vendors and service providers for establishing, developing, improving, populating or maintaining information technology, infrastructure or other similar or related systems (including software, databases and cloud-based services or products) to be used by or for the benefit of the Fund; any costs and expenses to ensure ongoing compliance with the laws of various jurisdictions or applicable regulations (including, but not limited to, costs and expenses to obtain exemptions, maintain qualifications, satisfy any regulatory or other jurisdiction fees, such as filing, notice and registration fees, as well as costs and expenses relating to the preparation and filing of regulatory filings, including any costs and expenses relating to any registrations of the Adviser and its affiliates relating to the Fund’s activities, including any costs and expenses relating to any registrations (or maintenance thereof); costs and expenses relating to any amendment of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust or other organizational documents of the Fund; expenses of preparing, amending, printing, and distributing the Prospectus, SAI, and any other sales material (and any supplements or amendments thereto), reports, notices, websites, other communications to Shareholders, and proxy materials; expenses of preparing, printing, and filing reports and other documents with government agencies; expenses of Shareholders’ meetings, including the solicitation of proxies in connection therewith; expenses of corporate data processing and related services; Shareholder recordkeeping and account services, fees, and disbursements; expenses relating to investor and public relations; fees and expenses of the members of the Board who are not employees of the Adviser or its affiliates; insurance premiums; Extraordinary Expenses (as defined below); and all costs and expenses incurred as a result of dissolution, winding-up and termination of the Fund. The Fund may need to sell Fund Investments to pay fees and expenses, which could cause the Fund to realize taxable gains.
“Extraordinary Expenses” means all expenses incurred by the Fund, as applicable, outside of the ordinary course of its business, including, without limitation, costs incurred in connection with any claim, litigation, arbitration, mediation, government investigation or dispute and the amount of any judgment or settlement paid in connection therewith, or the enforcement of the rights against any person or entity; costs and expenses for indemnification or contribution payable to any person or entity (including, without limitation, pursuant to the indemnification obligations described under “SUMMARY OF THE AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST —Limitation of Liability; Indemnification”); expenses of a reorganization, restructuring or merger, as applicable; expenses of holding, or soliciting proxies for, a meeting of Shareholders (except to the extent relating to items customarily addressed at an annual meeting of a registered closed-end management investment company); and the expenses of engaging a new administrator, custodian, transfer agent or escrow agent.
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The Adviser will bear all of its own routine overhead expenses, including rent, utilities, salaries and office equipment. In addition, the Adviser is responsible for the payment of the compensation and expenses of those members of the Board and officers of the Fund affiliated with the Adviser, and making available, without expense to the Fund, the services of such individuals, subject to their individual consent to serve and to any limitations imposed by law.
The Adviser and its affiliates may be entitled to receive topping, break-up, monitoring, directors’ organizational, set-up, Advisory, investment banking, syndication and other similar fees in connection with the purchase, monitoring or disposition of Fund Investments or from unconsummated transactions. Any such fees earned in respect of the Fund Investments shall be for the benefit of the Fund.
The Adviser intends to enter into an expense limitation agreement (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”) with the Fund, whereby the Adviser has agreed to waive fees that it would otherwise be paid, and/or to assume expenses of the Fund (a “Waiver”), if required to ensure the Total Annual Expenses (excluding taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, certain transaction-related expenses, extraordinary expenses, the Investment Management Fee, Incentive Fee and any acquired fund fees and expenses) do not exceed 2.00%, 1.00% and 1.25% of the average daily net assets of Class A Shares, Class I Shares and Class D Shares, respectively (the “Expense Limit”). For a period not to exceed three years from the date on which a Waiver is made, the Adviser may recoup amounts waived or assumed, provided it is able to effect such recoupment without causing the Fund’s expense ratio (after recoupment) to exceed the lesser of (a) the expense limit in effect at the time of the waiver, and (b) the expense limit in effect at the time of the recoupment. The Expense Limitation Agreement will have a term ending one year from the date the Fund commences operations, and will automatically renew thereafter for up to two additional consecutive twelve-month terms, provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Trustees. The Expense Limitation Agreement may be terminated by the Fund’s Board of Trustees upon thirty days’ written notice to the Adviser.
The Portfolio Funds and certain other investments will bear various fees and expenses in connection with their operations; these fees and expenses are similar to those incurred by the Fund. For example, the Portfolio Funds will pay asset-based fees to their Sponsors and generally may pay performance-based fees or allocations to their Sponsors, which effectively reduce the investment returns of the Portfolio Funds. These expenses, fees, and allocations are in addition to those incurred by the Fund directly. As an investor in the Portfolio Funds and other investments, the Fund will bear a portion of the expenses and fees of the Portfolio Funds and other investments. Such indirect fees and expenses are borne by the Fund.
The Fund’s expenses incurred and to be incurred in connection with the Fund’s organization are not expected to exceed $270,958. The Fund’s expenses incurred and to be incurred in connection with the initial offering of Shares will be amortized by the Fund over the 12-month period beginning on the Initial Closing Date and are not expected to exceed $26,308. The Fund will also bear directly certain ongoing offering costs associated with any periodic offers of Shares, which will be expensed as they are incurred. Offering costs cannot be deducted by the Fund or the Shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
The Fund’s fees and expenses will decrease the net profits or increase the net losses of the Fund.
VOTING
Each Shareholder will have the right to cast a number of votes, based on the value of such Shareholder’s Shares, at any meeting of Shareholders called by the (i) Board or (ii) Shareholders holding at least a majority of the total number of votes eligible to be cast by all Shareholders. Except for the exercise of such voting privileges, Shareholders will not be entitled to participate in the management or control of the Fund’s business and may not act for or bind the Fund.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
The Fund may be subject to a number of actual and potential conflicts of interest, including, but not limited to, those set forth in further detail below.
Affiliates
The Adviser and its affiliates engage in financial advisory and investment management activities that are independent from, and may from time to time conflict with, those of the Fund. For example, the Adviser and its affiliates may provide services to, invest in, advise, sponsor and/or act as investment manager to investment vehicles and other persons or entities (including prospective investors in the Fund) which may have structures, investment objectives and/or policies that are similar to (or different than) those of the Fund; which may compete with the Fund for investment opportunities; and which may, subject to applicable law, co-invest with the Fund in certain transactions. In addition, the Adviser, its affiliates and their respective clients may themselves invest in securities that would be appropriate for the Fund or the Portfolio Funds and may compete with the Portfolio Funds for investment opportunities. All of these activities, both currently and in the future, may give rise to instances in which the interests of the Adviser, its affiliates and/or their respective clients conflict with the interests of the Fund. By acquiring Shares of the Fund, each Shareholder will be deemed to have acknowledged the existence of any such actual and potential conflicts of interest and to have waived any claim with respect to any liability arising from the existence of any such conflict of interest, except as may otherwise be provided under the provisions of applicable state law or Federal securities law that cannot be waived or modified.
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The Fund has applied for exemptive relief from the SEC that would permit the Fund to participate in certain negotiated direct equity investments alongside other funds managed by the Adviser or certain of its affiliates outside the parameters of Section 17 of the Investment Company Act , subject to certain conditions including (i) that a majority of the Trustees of the Board who have no financial interest in the co-investment transaction and a majority of the Trustees of the Board who are not “interested persons,” as defined in the Investment Company Act, approve the 17(d) investment and (ii) that the price, terms and conditions of the 17(d) investment will be identical for each fund participating pursuant to the exemptive relief. The Fund will not engage in 17(d) investments alongside affiliates unless the Fund has received an order granting such exemptive relief or unless such investments are not prohibited by Section 17(d) of the Investment Company Act or interpretations of Section 17(d) as expressed in SEC no-action letters or other available guidance. There can be no assurance when or if the Fund will obtain such exemptive relief. Furthermore, even if the Fund obtains exemptive relief, it could be limited in its ability to invest in certain investments in which the Adviser or any of its affiliates are investing or are invested.
Although the Adviser and its affiliates will seek to allocate investment opportunities among the Fund and their other clients in a fair and reasonable manner, there can be no assurance that an investment opportunity that comes to the attention of the Adviser or its affiliates will be appropriate for the Fund or will be referred to the Fund. The Adviser and its affiliates are not obligated to refer any investment opportunity to the Fund.
The directors, partners, trustees, managers, members, officers and employees of the Adviser and their affiliates may buy and sell securities or other investments for their own accounts (including through funds managed by the Adviser or its affiliates). As a result of differing investment strategies or constraints, investments may be made by directors, partners, trustees, managers, members, officers and employees that are the same, different from or made at different times than investments made for the Fund. To reduce the possibility that the Fund will be materially adversely affected by the personal trading described above, each of the Fund and the Adviser have adopted codes of ethics (collectively, the “Codes of Ethics”) in compliance with Section 17(j) of the Investment Company Act that restricts securities trading in the personal accounts of investment professionals and others who normally come into possession of information regarding the portfolio transactions of the Fund. The Codes of Ethics are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s internet site at http://www.sec.gov, and may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following email address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
Expenses incurred with respect to the Fund Investments are generally allocated among the Fund and the Adviser’s and its affiliates’ other clients participating in such investments. With respect to each Fund Investment in which any co-investor of the Adviser or its affiliates co-invests with one or more funds (including the Fund) or separate accounts managed by the Adviser or its affiliates, investment expenses or indemnification obligations related to such investments are generally borne by such funds (including the Fund) or separate accounts and such co-investor(s) in proportion to the capital committed by each to such investment.
Except in accordance with applicable law, the Adviser and its affiliates are not permitted to buy securities or other property from, or sell securities or other property to, the Fund. However, subject to certain conditions imposed by applicable rules under the Investment Company Act, the Fund may effect certain principal transactions in securities with one or more accounts managed by the Adviser, except for accounts as to which the Adviser or any of its affiliates serves as a general partner or as to which they may be deemed to be an affiliated person (or an affiliated person of such a person), other than an affiliation that results solely from the Adviser or one of its affiliates serving as an investment adviser to the account. These transactions would be made in circumstances where the Adviser has determined it would be appropriate for both the Fund to purchase (or sell), and for another account to sell (or purchase), the same security or instrument on the same day.
Allocation of the Adviser’s and its Affiliates’ Time
The Fund substantially relies on the Adviser to manage the day-to-day activities of the Fund and to implement the Fund’s investment strategy. The Adviser and certain of its affiliates are presently, and plan in the future to continue to be, involved with activities which are unrelated to the Fund. For example, the Adviser and its affiliates are not restricted from forming additional investment funds, from entering into other investment advisory relationships or from engaging in other business activities, even though such activities may be in competition with the Fund and/or may involve substantial time and resources of the Adviser. These activities could be viewed as creating a conflict of interest in that the time and effort of the Adviser, its affiliates and each of their officers and employees will not be devoted exclusively to the Fund’s business but will be allocated between the Fund and the management of the assets of other advisees of the Adviser and its affiliates. The Adviser and its employees will devote only as much of their time to the Fund’s business as the Adviser and its employees, in their judgment, determine is reasonably required, which may be substantially less than their full time. Therefore, the Adviser, its employees and certain affiliates may experience conflicts of interest in allocating management time, services and functions among the Fund and any other business ventures in which they or any of their key personnel, as applicable, are or may become involved. This could result in actions that are more favorable to other affiliated entities than to the Fund.
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Nevertheless, the Fund believes that the members of the Adviser’s senior management and the other key professionals have sufficient time to fully discharge their responsibilities to the Fund and to the other businesses in which they are involved. The Fund believes that its affiliates and executive officers will devote the time required to manage the business and expect that the amount of time a particular executive officer or affiliate devotes to the Fund will vary during the course of the year and depend on the Fund’s business activities at the given time.
Compensation Arrangements
The Adviser will receive substantial fees from the Fund in return for its services, and these fees could influence the advice provided by the Adviser. Among other matters, the compensation arrangements could affect the Adviser’s judgment with respect to offerings of equity by the Fund, which allow the Adviser to earn increased Investment Management Fees.
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
The Fund intends to qualify annually as a RIC under the Code and intends to distribute at least 90% of its annual net taxable income to its Shareholders. For any distribution, the Fund will calculate each Shareholder’s specific distribution amount for the period using record and declaration dates. From time to time, the Fund may also pay special interim distributions in the form of cash or Shares at the discretion of the Board. Unless Shareholders elect to receive distributions in the form of cash, the Fund intends to make its ordinary distributions in the form of additional Shares under the DRIP. Any distributions reinvested under the DRIP will nevertheless remain subject to U.S. federal (and applicable state and local) taxation to Shareholders. The Fund may finance its cash distributions to Shareholders from any sources of funds available to the Fund, including offering proceeds, borrowings, net investment income from operations, capital gains proceeds from the sale of Fund Investments, non-capital gains proceeds from the sale of Fund Investments, dividends or other distributions paid to the Fund and expense reimbursements from the Adviser. The Fund has not established limits on the amount of funds the Fund may use from available sources to make distributions.
Each year a statement on IRS Form 1099-DIV (or successor form), identifying the character (e.g., as ordinary income, qualified dividend income or long-term capital gain) of the distributions, will be mailed to Shareholders. The Fund’s distributions may exceed the Fund’s earnings, especially during the period before the Fund has substantially invested the proceeds from this offering. As a result, a portion of the distributions the Fund makes may represent a return of capital for U.S. federal tax purposes. A return of capital generally is a return of your investment rather than a return of earnings or gains derived from the Fund’s investment activities and will be made after deduction of the fees and expenses payable in connection with the offering, including any fees payable to the Adviser. See “CERTAIN TAX CONSIDERATIONS.” There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to pay distributions at a specific rate or at all.
The Fund intends to elect to be treated, beginning with the taxable year ending September 30, 2022, and intends to qualify annually, as a RIC under Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). To qualify for and maintain RIC tax treatment, the Fund must, among other things, distribute at least 90% of its net ordinary income and realized net short-term capital gains in excess of realized net long-term capital losses, if any. A RIC may satisfy the 90% distribution requirement by distributing dividends (other than capital gain dividends) during the taxable year (including dividends declared in October, November or December of a taxable year that, if paid in the following January, are treated as paid by a RIC and received by its shareholders in the prior taxable year). In addition, a RIC may, in certain cases, satisfy the 90% distribution requirement by distributing dividends relating to a taxable year after the close of such taxable year under the “spillover dividend” provisions of the Code. If a RIC makes a spillover dividend the amounts will be included in IRS Form 1099-DIV for the year the spillover distribution is paid.
The Fund can offer no assurance that it will achieve results that will permit the Fund to pay any cash distributions. If the Fund issues senior securities, the Fund will be prohibited from making distributions if doing so causes the Fund to fail to maintain the asset coverage ratios stipulated by the Investment Company Act or if distributions are limited by the terms of any of the Fund’s borrowings. See “CERTAIN TAX CONSIDERATIONS.”
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN
The Fund has adopted an “opt-out” dividend reinvestment plan pursuant to which all Shareholders will have the full amount of their cash distributions reinvested in additional Shares unless a Shareholder elects otherwise. Any distributions of the Fund’s Shares pursuant to the DRIP are dependent on the continued registration of the Fund’s securities or the availability of an exemption from registration in the recipient’s home state. Participants in the DRIP are free to elect to participate or terminate participation in the DRIP within a reasonable time as specified below.
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If you elect not to participate in the DRIP, you will receive any distributions the Fund declares in cash. For example, if the Board authorizes, and the Fund declares, a distribution, then unless you have “opted-out” of the DRIP, you will have your cash distributions reinvested in additional Shares, rather than receiving the cash distributions. The Fund expects to coordinate distribution payment dates so that the same net asset value that is used for the monthly closing date immediately preceding such distribution payment date will be used to calculate the purchase net asset value for purchasers under the DRIP. Shares issued pursuant to the DRIP will have the same voting rights as the Fund’s Shares acquired by subscription to the Fund.
If you wish to participate in the DRIP and receive your distribution in additional Shares, no action will be required on your part to do so. Investors that wish to receive their distributions in cash may do so by making a written election to not participate in the DRIP on the investor’s application or by notifying the Administrator in writing at ALPS Fund Services, Inc. 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, CO 80203. Such written notice must be received by the Administrator 60 days prior to the record date of the distribution or the Shareholder will receive such distribution in shares through the DRIP. If Shares are held by a broker or other financial intermediary, in some circumstances a Shareholder may “opt out” of the DRIP by notifying its broker or other financial intermediary of such election. Please check with your broker or other financial intermediary for more details.
There are no selling commissions, dealer manager fees or other sales charges to you as a result of your participation in the DRIP. The Fund pays the Administrator’s fees under the DRIP. If you receive your ordinary cash distributions in the form of Shares as part of the DRIP, you generally are subject to the same U.S. federal, state and local tax consequences as you would be had you elected to receive your distributions in cash.
Your basis for determining gain or loss upon the sale of Shares received in a distribution from the Fund will be equal to the total dollar amount of the distribution payable in cash. Any Shares received in a distribution will have a holding period for tax purposes commencing on the day following the day on which the Shares are credited to your account. The Fund reserves the right to amend, suspend or terminate the DRIP. You may terminate your account under the DRIP by notifying the Administrator at ALPS Fund Services, Inc. 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, CO 80203, or by calling the Administrator at 844-663-0164.
All correspondence concerning the DRIP should be directed to the Administrator by mail at MVP Private Markets Fund, c/o ALPS Fund Services, Inc. 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, CO 80203, or by calling the Administrator at 844-663-0164.
OUTSTANDING SECURITIES
As of the date of this Prospectus, there were no outstanding Shares of the Fund.
REPURCHASES OF SHARES
No Right of Repurchase
The Fund is not a liquid investment. No Shareholder (or other person holding Shares acquired from a Shareholder) will have the right to require the Fund to redeem or repurchase its Shares. No public market exists for Shares, and none is expected to develop. Consequently, Shareholders may not be able to liquidate their investment other than as a result of repurchases of Shares by the Fund, as described below.
Periodic Repurchases
The Board, from time to time and in its sole discretion, may determine to cause the Fund to offer to repurchase Shares from Shareholders, including the Adviser and its affiliates, pursuant to written tenders by Shareholders.
The Adviser anticipates recommending to the Board that, under normal market circumstances, the Fund conduct repurchase offers of no more than 5% of the Fund’s net assets generally quarterly beginning on date approximately 10 months from launch (or such earlier or later date as the Board may determine) and thereafter quarterly on or about each December 31, March 31, June 30 and September 30.
The Fund will make repurchase offers, if any, to all holders of Shares. A Shareholder who tenders some but not all of its Shares for repurchase will be required to maintain a minimum account balance of $25,000 worth of Shares in the case of Class A Shares, $100,000 worth of Shares in the case of Class I Shares or $25,000 worth of Shares in the case of Class D Shares. Such minimum ownership requirement may be waived by the Board, in its sole discretion. The Fund reserves the right to reduce the amount to be repurchased from a Shareholder so that the required capital balance is maintained.
A 2.00% early repurchase fee will be charged by the Fund with respect to any repurchase of Shares from a Shareholder at any time prior to the day immediately preceding the one-year anniversary of the Shareholder’s purchase of the Shares. Shares tendered for repurchase will be treated as having been repurchased on a “first in-first out” basis. An early repurchase fee payable by a Shareholder may be waived by the Fund in circumstances where the Board determines that doing so is in the best interests of the Fund.
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Subject to the considerations described above, the aggregate value of Shares to be repurchased at any time will be determined by the Board in its sole discretion, and such amount may be stated as a percentage of the value of the Fund’s outstanding Shares. The Fund may also elect to repurchase less than the full amount that a Shareholder requests to be repurchased. If a repurchase offer is oversubscribed by Shareholders, the Fund will repurchase only a pro rata portion of the Shares tendered by each Shareholder.
In determining whether the Fund should offer to repurchase Shares thereof from its Shareholders pursuant to written requests, the Board will consider the recommendation of the Adviser. The Board also may consider the following factors, among others, in determining whether to repurchase Shares and the number of Shares to be repurchased:
| · | whether any Shareholders of the Fund have requested to tender Shares to the Fund; |
| · | the working capital and liquidity requirements of the Fund; |
| · | the relative sizes of the repurchase requests and the Fund; |
| · | the past practice of the Fund in repurchasing Shares in the Fund; |
| · | the condition of the securities markets and the economy generally, as well as political, national or international developments or current affairs; |
| · | the anticipated U.S. federal income tax consequences of any proposed repurchases of Shares in the Fund; and |
| · | the Fund’s investment plans, the liquidity of its assets (including fees and costs associated with liquidating Fund Investments), and the availability of information as to the value of its interests in underlying Portfolio Companies, Portfolio Funds and other Fund Investments. |
As described above, in certain circumstances the Board may determine not to conduct a repurchase offer, or to conduct a repurchase offer of less than 5% of the Fund’s net assets. In particular, during periods of financial market stress, the Board may determine that some or all of the Fund Investments cannot be liquidated at their fair value, making a determination not to conduct repurchase offers more likely.
As an alternative, during such periods the Board may offer to repurchase Shares at a discount to their prevailing net asset value that appropriately reflects market conditions, subject to applicable law (a “Discount Repurchase Offer”). The benefit of any Shares repurchased at a discount will be for the benefit of the Fund.
Procedures for Repurchase of Shares
The following is a summary of the procedures expected to be employed by the Fund in connection with the repurchase of Shares.
The Board will determine that the Fund will offer to repurchase Shares pursuant to written tenders only on terms that the Board determines to be fair to the Fund and Shareholders. The amount due to any Shareholder whose Shares are repurchased will be equal to the value of the Shareholder’s Shares being repurchased, based on the Fund’s net asset value, as of the Valuation Date (as defined below), after reduction for all fees and expenses of the Fund for all periods through the Valuation Date (including, without limitation, the Investment Management Fee, Administration Fee, any Incentive Fee and any Early Repurchase Fee (as defined below), any required U.S. federal tax withholding and other liabilities of the Fund to the extent accrued or otherwise attributable to the Shares being repurchased (including pursuant to a Discount Repurchase Offer, if applicable). If the Board determines that the Fund will offer to repurchase Shares, written notice will be provided to Shareholders that describes the commencement date of the repurchase offer, specifies the date on which repurchase requests must be received by the Fund, and contains other terms and information Shareholders should consider in deciding whether and how to participate in such repurchase opportunity. The expiration date of the repurchase offer (the “Expiration Date”) will be a date set by the Board occurring no sooner than 20 business days after the commencement date of the repurchase offer, provided that such Expiration Date may be extended by the Board in its sole discretion. The Fund generally will not accept any repurchase request received by it or its designated agent after the Expiration Date. Each repurchase offer will be offered pursuant to the tender offer rules of the Exchange Act.
Payment by the Fund upon a repurchase of Shares is expected to be made in cash. The Fund does not generally expect to distribute securities as payment for repurchased Shares except in unusual circumstances, including if making a cash payment would result in a material adverse effect on the Fund or the Shareholders, or if the Fund has received distributions from Portfolio Companies in the form of securities that are transferable to the Fund’s Shareholders. Securities which are distributed in-kind in connection with a repurchase of Shares may be illiquid. Any in-kind distribution of securities will be valued in accordance with the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and will be distributed to all tendering Shareholders on a proportional basis. See “CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE; VALUATION.”
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In light of liquidity constraints associated with many of the Fund Investments and the fact that the Fund may have to liquidate interests in such investments to fund the repurchase of Shares and due to other considerations applicable to the Fund, the Fund expects to employ the following additional repurchase procedures:
| · | The value of Shares being repurchased will be determined as of a date, determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, which will be no more than 60 days after the Expiration Date (the “Valuation Date”), and any such repurchase will be effected as of the Valuation Date (the “Repurchase Date”). As discussed above, and subject to the considerations described above, it is expected that there will be a Repurchase Date on date approximately 10 months from launch (or such earlier or later date as the Board may determine) and thereafter quarterly on or about each December 31, March 31, June 30 and September 30. The determination of the value of Shares as of the Valuation Date is subject to adjustment based upon the results of the annual audit of the financial statements of the Fund for the fiscal year in which such Valuation Date occurred. |
| · | The initial payment (the “Initial Payment”) will be in an amount equal to at least 90% of the estimated aggregate value of the repurchased Shares, determined as of the Valuation Date in the manner specified above. The Initial Payment will be made on or before the sixty-fifth day after the Expiration Date. |
| · | The second and final payment (the “Final Payment”) is expected to be in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the aggregate value of the repurchased Shares, determined as of the Valuation Date in the manner specified above based upon the results of the annual audit of the financial statements of the Fund for the fiscal year in which the Valuation Date of such repurchase occurred, over (ii) the Initial Payment. It is anticipated that the annual audit of the financial statements of the Fund will be completed within 60 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Fund and that the Final Payment will be made as promptly as practicable after the completion of such audit. |
| · | Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, if a Shareholder, after giving effect to the repurchase, would continue to hold at least 5% of the aggregate value of its Shares as of the Valuation Date, the Final Payment in respect of such repurchase shall be made on or before the 60th day after the Repurchase Date. Such payment shall be in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the aggregate value of the repurchased Shares, determined as of the Valuation Date in the manner specified above, based upon information known to the Fund as of the date of the Final Payment, over (ii) the Initial Payment. If, based upon the results of the annual audit of the financial statements of the Fund for the fiscal year in which the Valuation Date of such repurchase occurred, it is determined that the value at which the Shares were repurchased was incorrect, the Fund shall decrease such Shareholder’s account balance by the amount of any overpayment and redeem for no additional consideration a number of Shares having a value equal to such amount, or increase such Shareholder’s account balance by the amount of any underpayment and issue for no additional consideration a number of Shares having an aggregate value equal to such amount, as applicable, in each case as promptly as practicable following the completion of such audits. |
The repurchase of Shares is subject to regulatory requirements imposed by the SEC. The Fund’s repurchase procedures are intended to comply with such requirements. However, in the event that the Board determines that modification of the repurchase procedures described above is required or appropriate, the Board will adopt revised repurchase procedures as necessary to ensure the Fund’s compliance with applicable regulations or as the Board in its sole discretion deems appropriate. Following the commencement of an offer to repurchase Shares, the Fund may suspend, postpone or terminate such offer in certain circumstances upon the determination of a majority of the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, that such suspension, postponement or termination is advisable for the Fund and its Shareholders, including, without limitation, circumstances as a result of which it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to dispose of its investments or to determine its net asset value, and other unusual circumstances.
Each Shareholder whose Shares have been accepted for repurchase will continue to be a Shareholder of the Fund until the Repurchase Date (and thereafter if the Shareholder retains Shares following such repurchase) and may exercise its voting rights with respect to the repurchased Shares until the Repurchase Date. Moreover, the account maintained in respect of a Shareholder whose Shares have been accepted for repurchase will be adjusted for the net profits or net losses of the Fund through the Valuation Date, and such Shareholder’s account shall not be adjusted for the amount withdrawn, as a result of the repurchase, prior to the Repurchase Date. Shareholders whose written tenders are not accepted by the Fund for payment prior to the expiration of forty business days from the commencement of the offer, have the right to withdraw their tender requests.
Payments for repurchased Shares may require the Fund to liquidate Fund Investments earlier than the Adviser otherwise would liquidate such holdings, potentially resulting in losses, and may increase the Fund’s portfolio turnover; provided, however, that where the Board determines to make Discount Repurchase Offers as described above, the consequences of such premature liquidation may be wholly or partially mitigated. The Fund may, but need not, maintain cash or borrow money to meet repurchase requests. Such a practice could increase the Fund’s operating expenses and impact the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objective.
A 2.00% early repurchase fee (the “Early Repurchase Fee”) will be charged by the Fund with respect to any repurchase of Shares from a Shareholder at any time prior to the day immediately preceding the one-year anniversary of the Shareholder’s purchase of the Shares. Shares tendered for repurchase will be treated as having been repurchased on a “first in-first out” basis. Therefore, Shares repurchased will be deemed to have been taken from the earliest purchase of Shares by such Shareholder (adjusted for subsequent net profits and net losses) until all such Shares have been repurchased, and then from each subsequent purchase of Shares by such Shareholder (adjusted for subsequent net profits and net losses) until such Shares are repurchased. An Early Repurchase Fee payable by a Shareholder may be waived by the Fund in circumstances where the Board determines that doing so is in the best interests of the Fund.
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Other than the Early Repurchase Fee, the Fund does not presently intend to impose any charges on the repurchase of Shares. However, the Fund is permitted to allocate Shareholders, whose Shares are repurchased, costs and charges imposed by the Fund Investments, if the Adviser determines to liquidate such interests as a result of repurchase tenders by Shareholders and such charges are imposed on the Fund. In the event that any such charges are allocated to the Fund, and subject to applicable law, the Fund may allocate such charges to the Shareholders whose repurchase tenders resulted in the repurchase of a portion of the Shares that resulted in such charges. Additionally, as described above, the Board may offer to repurchase at a discount to net asset value under certain circumstances.
In the event that the Adviser or any of its affiliates holds Shares in its capacity as a Shareholder, such Shares may be tendered for repurchase in connection with any repurchase offer made by the Fund, without notice to the other Shareholders.
Mandatory Repurchase by the Fund
In accordance with the terms and conditions of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, the Fund may cause a mandatory repurchase of all or some of the Shares of a Shareholder, or any person acquiring Shares from or through a Shareholder, in the event that the Board determines or has reason to believe, in its sole discretion, that: (i) that Shareholder or person’s Shares have been transferred to, or has vested in, any person, by operation of law in connection with the death, divorce, bankruptcy, insolvency, or adjudicated incompetence of a Shareholder; (ii) ownership of the Shares by such Shareholder or other person will cause the Fund to be in violation of, or subject the Fund or the Adviser to additional registration or regulation under the securities, commodities, or other laws of the United States or any other jurisdiction; (iii) continued ownership of the Shares by such Shareholder may be harmful or injurious to the business or reputation of the Fund or the Adviser, or may subject the Fund or any Shareholders or to an undue risk of adverse tax or other fiscal consequences; (iv) any representation or warranty made by a Shareholder in connection with the acquisition of Shares was not true when made or has ceased to be true, or the Shareholder has breached any covenant made by it in connection with the acquisition of Shares; or (v) it would be in the best interests of the Fund for the Fund to cause a mandatory repurchase of such Shares in circumstances where the Board determines that doing so is in the best interests of the Fund in a manner as will not discriminate unfairly against any Shareholder.
TRANSFERS OF SHARES
No person shall become a substituted Shareholder of the Fund without the consent of the Fund, which consent may be withheld in the Adviser’s discretion. Shares held by Shareholders may be transferred only: (i) by operation of law in connection with the death, divorce, bankruptcy, insolvency, or adjudicated incompetence of the Shareholder; or (ii) under other limited circumstances, with the consent of the Board or Adviser (which may be withheld in its discretion and is expected to be granted, if at all, only under extenuating circumstances).
Notice to the Fund of any proposed transfer must include evidence satisfactory to the Fund that the proposed transferee, at the time of transfer, meets any requirements imposed by the Fund with respect to investor eligibility and suitability. See “ELIGIBLE INVESTORS.” Notice of a proposed transfer of Shares must also be accompanied by a properly completed subscription document in respect of the proposed transferee. In connection with any request to transfer Shares, the Fund may require the Shareholder requesting the transfer to obtain, at the Shareholder’s expense, an opinion of counsel selected by the Fund as to such matters as the Fund may reasonably request. The Fund generally will not consent to a transfer of Shares by a Shareholder (i) unless such transfer is to a single transferee, or (ii) if, after the transfer of the Shares, each of the transferee and transferor own less than $25,000 worth of Shares in the case of Class A Shares, $100,000 worth of Shares in the case of Class I Shares or $25,000 worth of Shares in the case of Class D Shares. Each transferring Shareholder and transferee may be charged reasonable expenses (which may be offset against the transferor or transferee’s shares), including, but not limited to, attorneys’ and accountants’ fees, incurred by the Fund in connection with the transfer.
Any transferee acquiring Shares by operation of law in connection with the death, divorce, bankruptcy, insolvency, or adjudicated incompetence of the Shareholder, will be entitled to the allocations and distributions allocable to the Shares so acquired, to transfer the Shares in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and to tender the Shares for repurchase by the Fund, but will not be entitled to the other rights of a Shareholder unless and until the transferee becomes a substituted Shareholder as specified in the Agreement and Declaration of Trust. If a Shareholder transfers Shares with the approval of the Fund, the Fund shall as promptly as practicable take all necessary actions so that each transferee or successor to whom the Shares are transferred is admitted to the Fund as a Shareholder.
By subscribing for Shares, each Shareholder agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, the Board, the Adviser, and each other Shareholder, and any affiliate of the foregoing and any of their employees, officers or directors against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including legal or other expenses incurred in investigating or defending against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses or any judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement), joint or several, to which such persons may become subject by reason of or arising from any transfer made by that Shareholder in violation of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust or any misrepresentation made by that Shareholder in connection with any such transfer.
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CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE; VALUATION
The Fund will calculate its net asset value as of the close of business on the last business day of each month, each date that a Share is offered or repurchased, as of the date of any distribution and at such other times as the Board shall determine (each, a “Determination Date”). In determining its net asset value, the Fund will value its investments as of the relevant Determination Date. The net asset value of the Fund will equal, unless otherwise noted, the value of the total assets of the Fund, less all of its liabilities, including accrued fees and expenses, each determined as of the relevant Determination Date. The net asset value of Class A Shares, Class I Shares and Class D Shares will be calculated separately based on the fees and expenses applicable to each class. It is expected that the net asset value of Class A Shares, Class I Shares and Class D Shares will vary over time due to the different fees and expenses applicable to each class.
The Board has approved valuation procedures for the Fund, consistent with the Adviser’s valuation policy (the “Valuation Policy”), and has delegated to the Adviser the responsibility to determine the fair value of the Fund’s investments. The Board oversees the Adviser’s implementation of the Valuation Policy and may consult with representatives from the Fund’s outside legal counsel or other third-party consultants in their discussions and deliberations. The valuation of the Fund’s investments is performed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification 820 — Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.
The Valuation Policy provides that the Fund will value its Fund Investments at fair value.
Assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies will be converted into U.S. Dollars using foreign exchange rates provided by a recognized pricing service.
Securities traded on one or more of the U.S. national securities exchanges, the Nasdaq Stock Market or any foreign stock exchange will be valued based on their respective market price, subject to adjustment based on potential restrictions on the transfer or sale of such securities.
Debt instruments for which market quotations are readily available are typically valued based on such market quotations. In validating market quotations, the Adviser considers different factors such as the source and the nature of the quotation and trading volume in order to determine whether the quotation represents fair value. The Adviser makes use of reputable financial information providers in order to obtain the relevant quotations.
For debt and equity securities which are not publicly traded or for which market prices are not readily available (unquoted investments) the fair value is determined in good faith. In determining the fair values of Direct Investments, the Adviser will typically apply widely recognized market and income valuation methodologies including, but not limited to, earnings and multiple analysis, discounted cash flow method and third-party valuations. In order to determine a fair value, these methods are applied to the latest information provided by the relevant Portfolio Companies or other business counterparties.
Secondary Investments and Primary Investments in Portfolio Funds are generally valued based on the latest net asset value reported by the associated Sponsor taking into account the subsequent cash flow activity with respect thereto as set forth below, provided that if the Adviser concludes in good faith that the latest net asset value reported by a Sponsor does not represent fair value, the Adviser will make a corresponding adjustment to reflect the current fair value of such Portfolio Fund. In determining the fair value of assets held by Portfolio Funds, the Adviser applies valuation methodologies as outlined above. Any cash flows since the reference date of the last net asset value for a Portfolio Fund received by the Fund from a Sponsor until the Determination Date are recognized by (i) adding the nominal amount of the investment related capital calls and (ii) deducting the nominal amount of investment related distributions from the net asset value as reported by the Sponsor.
Notwithstanding the above, Sponsors may adopt a variety of valuation bases and provide differing levels of information concerning Portfolio Funds and other investments and there will generally be no liquid markets for such investments. Consequently, there are inherent difficulties in determining the fair value that cannot be eliminated. Neither the Board nor the Adviser will be able to confirm independently the accuracy of valuations provided by the Sponsors (which are generally unaudited).
Determining the fair value of investments for which market values are not readily available is necessarily subject to incomplete information, reporting delays and many subjective judgments; accordingly, fair value determinations made by the Adviser should be considered as estimates. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in such determinations, the reported fair value of these investments may fluctuate from period to period. In addition, such fair value may differ materially from the values that may have been used had a ready market existed for such investments and may significantly differ from the value ultimately realized by the Fund.
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The Adviser and its affiliates act as investment advisers to other clients that invest in securities for which no public market price exists. Valuation determinations by the Adviser or its affiliates for other clients may result in different values than those ascribed to the same security owned by the Fund. Consequently, the fees charged to the Fund may be different than those charged to other clients, since the method of calculating the fees takes the value of all assets, including assets carried at different valuations, into consideration.
Expenses of the Fund, including the Investment Management Fee, are accrued on a monthly basis on the Determination Date and taken into account for the purpose of determining the Fund’s net asset value.
Prospective investors should be aware that situations involving uncertainties as to the value of portfolio positions could have an adverse effect on the Fund’s net asset value and the Fund if the judgments of the Board or the Adviser regarding appropriate valuations should prove incorrect.
CERTAIN TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a general summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to the Fund and to an investment in Shares by a Shareholder. This summary does not discuss all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to a particular investor, including an investor who holds Shares as part of a hedging, straddle, conversion, constructive sale or other integrated transaction, or to certain investors (e.g., investors subject to the alternative minimum tax, tax-exempt organizations, dealers in securities, pension plans and trusts, financial institutions, certain foreign investors and insurance companies) subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax laws. In addition, this summary does not specifically address the special tax consequences that may be applicable to persons who hold interests in partnerships, grantor trusts and other pass-through entities that hold Shares. This summary assumes that investors hold Shares as capital assets (generally, property held for investment).
THIS SUMMARY IS NECESSARILY GENERAL, AND EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR IS URGED TO CONSULT ITS TAX ADVISER WITH RESPECT TO THE U.S. FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL, AND FOREIGN INCOME AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSAL OF SHARES, INCLUDING APPLICABLE TAX REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
This summary is based on the Code as in effect on the date of this Prospectus, the Treasury Regulations, rulings of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), and court decisions in existence on the date hereof, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. The Fund has not sought a ruling from the IRS or any other federal, state or local agency with respect to any of the tax issues affecting the Fund. This summary does not discuss any aspects of the U.S. federal estate or gift tax or any state or local or non-U.S. tax. It does not discuss the special treatment under U.S. federal income tax laws that could result if the Fund invested in tax-exempt securities or certain other investment assets.
If a partnership (including an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds Shares, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership with respect to the Shares generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partners in partnerships considering an acquisition of Shares should consult their tax advisers with respect to the partnership’s purchase, ownership and disposition of Shares.
Taxation as a RIC
As a RIC, in any fiscal year with respect to which the Fund distributes at least 90% of the sum of the Fund’s: (i) “investment company taxable income,” which includes, among other items, dividends, interest, the excess of any net realized short-term capital gains over net realized long-term capital losses, and other taxable income (other than any net capital gain), reduced by deductible expenses, determined without regard to the deduction for dividends and distributions paid and (ii) net tax-exempt interest income (which is the excess of the Fund’s gross tax-exempt interest income over certain disallowed deductions), the Fund generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on investment company taxable income and net capital gains that the Fund distributes to its Shareholders (the “Annual Distribution Requirement”). The Fund intends to distribute, in its Shares and/or cash, annually, all or substantially all of such income. To the extent that the Fund retains its net capital gains for investment or any investment company taxable income, the Fund will be subject to U.S. federal income tax. The Fund may choose to retain its net capital gains for investment or any investment company taxable income, and pay the associated U.S. federal corporate income tax, including the U.S. federal excise tax (described below).
The Fund may retain some or all of its realized net long-term capital gains in excess of realized net short-term capital losses and designate the retained net capital gains as a “deemed distribution.” In that case, among other consequences, the Fund will pay tax on the retained amount and each Shareholder will be required to include its share of the deemed distribution in income as if it had been actually distributed to the Shareholder, and such Shareholder will be entitled to claim a credit equal to its allocable share of the tax paid thereon by the Fund for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The amount of the deemed distribution net of such tax will be added to the Shareholder’s cost basis for its Shares. Since the Fund generally would be required to pay tax on any retained net capital gains at the Fund’s regular corporate tax rate, and since that rate is in excess of the maximum rate currently payable by individuals on long-term capital gains, the amount of tax that individual Shareholders will be treated as having paid and for which they will receive a credit will exceed the tax they owe on the retained net capital gain. Such excess generally may be claimed as a credit against the U.S. Shareholder’s other U.S. federal income tax obligations or may be refunded to the extent it exceeds a Shareholder’s liability for U.S. federal income tax. A Shareholder that is not subject to U.S. federal income tax or otherwise required to file a U.S. federal income tax return would be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return on the appropriate form to claim a refund with respect to the allocable share of the taxes that the Fund has paid. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of Shares owned by a Shareholder will be increased by an amount equal to the excess of the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the Shareholder’s gross income over the tax deemed paid by the Shareholder as described in this paragraph. To utilize the deemed distribution approach, the Fund must provide written notice to Shareholders prior to the expiration of 60 days after the close of the relevant taxable year. The Fund cannot treat any of its investment company taxable income as a “deemed distribution.” The Fund may also make actual distributions to its Shareholders of some or all of realized net long-term capital gains in excess of realized net short-term capital losses.
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The Fund will be subject to a 4% nondeductible U.S. federal excise tax (the “Excise Tax”) on certain undistributed income unless the Fund distributes in a timely manner an amount at least equal to the sum of (i) 98% of the Fund’s net ordinary income for each calendar year, (ii) 98.2% of the Fund’s capital gain net income for the one-year period ending October 31 in that calendar year and (iii) any income recognized, but not distributed, in preceding years and on which the Fund paid no U.S. federal income tax (the “Excise Tax Avoidance Requirement”). For purposes of the required Excise Tax distribution, the income and gains of Portfolio Funds are expected to be treated as arising in the hands of the Fund at the time realized and recognized by the Portfolio Funds. While the Fund intends to distribute any income and capital gains in the manner necessary to minimize imposition of the Excise Tax, sufficient amounts of the Fund’s taxable income and capital gains may not be distributed to avoid entirely the imposition of the Excise Tax. In that event, the Fund will be liable for the Excise Tax only on the amount by which the Fund does not meet the Excise Tax Avoidance Requirement.
Given the difficulty of estimating Fund income and gains in a timely fashion, each year the Fund is likely to be liable for a 4% excise tax on the portion of underdistributed income and gains of the Fund.
In order to qualify as a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund must, among other things:
| · | derive in each taxable year at least 90% of the Fund’s gross income from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities, loans, gains from the sale of stock or other securities, net income from certain “qualified publicly traded partnerships,” or other income derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in such stock or securities (the “Source of Income Test”); and |
| · | diversify the Fund’s holdings so that at the end of each quarter of the taxable year: |
| · | at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s assets consists of cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs, and other securities if such other securities of any one issuer do not represent more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s assets or more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer; and |
| · | no more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s assets are invested in the securities, other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs, of one issuer, of two or more issuers that are controlled, as determined under applicable Code rules, by the Fund and that are engaged in the same or similar or related trades or businesses or of certain “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (the “Diversification Tests”). |
In the event the Fund owns equity interests in operating businesses conducted in “pass-through” form (i.e., as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes), income from such equity interests may not qualify for purposes of the Source of Income Test and, as a result, the Fund may be required to hold such interests through a subsidiary corporation. In such a case, any income from such equity interests should not adversely affect the Fund’s ability to meet the Source of Income Test, although such income generally would be subject to U.S. federal income tax, which the Fund would indirectly bear through its ownership of such subsidiary corporation.
The Fund is authorized to borrow funds and to sell assets in order to satisfy distribution requirements. However, under the Investment Company Act, the Fund is not permitted to make distributions to its Shareholders while its debt obligations and other senior securities are outstanding unless certain “asset coverage” tests are met. Moreover, the Fund’s ability to dispose of assets to meet the Fund’s distribution requirements may be limited by (i) the illiquid nature of the Fund’s portfolio and/or (ii) other requirements relating to the Fund’s qualification as a RIC, including the Diversification Tests. If the Fund disposes of assets in order to meet the Annual Distribution Requirement or the Excise Tax Avoidance Requirement, the Fund may make such dispositions at times that, from an investment standpoint, are not advantageous.
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Fund Investments
The Fund will invest a portion of its assets in Fund Investments that are classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
An entity that is properly classified as a partnership, rather than an association or publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation, is not itself subject to federal income tax. Instead, each partner of the partnership must take into account its distributive share of the partnership’s income, gains, losses, deductions and credits (including all such items allocable to that partnership from investments in other partnerships) for each taxable year of the partnership ending with or within the partner’s taxable year, without regard to whether such partner has received or will receive corresponding cash distributions from the partnership. Accordingly, the Fund may be required to recognize items of taxable income and gain prior to the time that the Fund receives corresponding cash distributions from a Fund Investment. In such case, the Fund might have to borrow money or dispose of investments, including interests in Fund Investments, and the Fund might have to sell shares of the Fund, in each case including when it is disadvantageous to do so, in order to make the distributions required in order to maintain its status as a RIC and to avoid the imposition of a federal income or excise tax.
In addition, the character of a partner’s distributive share of items of partnership income, gain and loss generally will be determined as if the partner had realized such items directly. Fund Investments classified as partnerships for federal income tax purposes may generate income allocable to the Fund that is not qualifying income for purposes of the Source of Income Test. In order to meet the Source of Income Test, the Fund may structure its investments in a way potentially increasing the taxes imposed thereon or in respect thereof. Because the Fund may not have timely or complete information concerning the amount and sources of a Fund Investment’s income until such income has been earned by such Fund Investment or until a substantial amount of time thereafter, it may be difficult for the Fund to satisfy the Source of Income Test.
Furthermore, it may not always be entirely clear how the asset diversification rules for RIC qualification will apply to the Fund’s investments in Fund Investments that are classified as partnerships for federal income tax purposes. The Fund will engage the services of a third-party service provider to collect, aggregate and analyze data on the Fund’s direct and indirect investments in order to ensure that the Fund meets the asset diversification test. In the event that the Fund believes that it is possible that it will fail the asset diversification requirement at the end of any quarter of a taxable year, it may seek to take certain actions to avert such failure, including by acquiring additional investments to come into compliance with the asset diversification test or by disposing of non-diversified assets. Although the Code affords the Fund the opportunity, in certain circumstances, to cure a failure to meet the asset diversification test, including by disposing of non-diversified assets within six months, there may be constraints on the Fund’s ability to dispose of its interest in an Investment Fund that limit utilization of this cure period.
As a result of the considerations described in the preceding paragraphs, the Fund’s intention to qualify and be eligible for treatment as a RIC can limit its ability to acquire or continue to hold positions in Fund Investments that would otherwise be consistent with their investment strategy or can require it to engage in transactions in which it would otherwise not engage, resulting in additional transaction costs and reducing the Fund’s return to investors.
Unless otherwise indicated, references in this discussion to the Fund’s investments, activities, income, gain, and loss include the direct investments, activities, income, gain, and loss of the Fund, as well as those indirectly attributable to the Fund as result of the Fund’s investment in any Fund Investment or other entity that is properly classified as a partnership or disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and not an association or publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation).
Certain of the Fund’s investment practices are subject to special and complex U.S. federal income tax provisions that may: (i) disallow, suspend, or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions, including the dividends received deduction, (ii) convert lower taxed long-term capital gains and qualified dividend income into higher taxed short-term capital gains or ordinary income, (iii) convert ordinary loss or a deduction into capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited), (iv) cause the Fund to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash, (v) adversely affect the time as to when a purchase or sale of stock or securities is deemed to occur, (vi) adversely alter the characterization of certain complex financial transactions and (vii) produce income that will not qualify as good income for purposes of the 90% annual gross income requirement described above. The Fund will monitor its transactions and may decide to make certain tax elections, may be required to borrow money, or may be required to dispose of securities to mitigate the effect of these rules and prevent disqualification of the Fund as a RIC.
Investments the Fund makes in securities issued at a discount or providing for deferred interest or paid-in-kind interest are subject to special tax rules that will affect the amount, timing, and character of distributions to the Fund’s Shareholders. For example, with respect to securities issued at a discount, the Fund will generally be required to accrue daily, as income, a portion of the discount and to distribute such income each year to maintain the Fund’s qualification as a RIC and to avoid U.S. federal income and the Excise Tax. Since in certain circumstances the Fund may recognize income before or without receiving cash representing such income, the Fund may have difficulty making distributions in the amounts necessary to satisfy the Annual Distribution Requirement and for avoiding U.S. federal income and the Excise Tax. Accordingly, the Fund may have to sell some of its investments at times the Fund would not consider advantageous, raise additional debt or equity capital, or reduce new investment originations to meet these distribution requirements. If the Fund is not able to obtain cash from other sources, the Fund may fail to qualify as a RIC and thereby be subject to corporate-level U.S. federal income tax.
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In the event the Fund invests in foreign securities, the Fund may be subject to withholding and other foreign taxes with respect to those securities. The Fund does not expect to satisfy the requirement to pass through to the Fund’s Shareholders their share of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund.
The Fund may invest in non-U.S. corporations (or other non-U.S. entities treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes). Thus, it is possible that one or more such entities in which the Fund invests could be treated under the Code and Treasury Regulations as a “passive foreign investment company” or a “controlled foreign corporation.” The rules relating to investments in these types of non-U.S. entities are designed to ensure that U.S. taxpayers are either, in effect, taxed currently (or on an accelerated basis with respect to corporate level events) or taxed at increased tax rates at distribution or disposition. In certain circumstances this could require the Fund to recognize income where the Fund does not receive a corresponding payment in cash and make distributions with respect to such income in order to maintain the Fund’s qualification as a RIC. Under such circumstances, the Fund may have difficulty meeting the Annual Distribution Requirement necessary to maintain RIC tax treatment under the Code. Under certain circumstances an investment in a passive foreign investment company could result in a tax to the Fund and/or an increase in the amount of taxable distributions by the Fund.
Failure to Qualify as a RIC
If the Fund failed to satisfy the annual Source of Income Test or the Diversification Tests for any quarter of a taxable year, the Fund might nevertheless continue to qualify as a RIC for such year if certain relief provisions of the Code applied (which might, among other things, require the Fund to pay certain corporate-level U.S. federal taxes or to dispose of certain assets). If the Fund failed to qualify for treatment as a RIC and such relief provisions did not apply, the Fund would be subject to U.S. federal income tax on all of its net taxable income at regular corporate U.S. federal income tax rates (and the Fund also would be subject to any applicable state and local taxes), regardless of whether the Fund made any distributions to Shareholders. The Fund would not be able to deduct distributions to its Shareholders, nor would the Fund be required to make distributions to its Shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Any distributions the Fund made generally would be taxable to its U.S. Shareholders as ordinary dividend income and, subject to certain limitations under the Code, would be eligible for the 20% maximum U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to individuals and other non-corporate U.S. Shareholders, to the extent of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits. Subject to certain limitations under the Code, U.S. Shareholders that are corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes would be eligible for the dividends-received deduction. Distributions in excess of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits would be treated first as a return of capital to the extent of the Shareholder’s adjusted tax basis, and any remaining distributions would be treated as a capital gain.
Subject to a limited exception applicable to RICs that qualified as such under Subchapter M of the Code for at least one year prior to disqualification and that re-qualify as a RIC no later than the second year following the non-qualifying year, the Fund could be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any unrealized net built-in gains in the assets held by it during the period in which it failed to qualify as a RIC that are recognized during the 10-year period after its requalification as a RIC, unless it made a special election to pay corporate-level U.S. federal income tax on such net built-in gains at the time of its requalification as a RIC. The Fund may decide to be taxed as a regular corporation (thereby becoming subject to U.S. federal income and other taxes as set forth above) even if it would otherwise qualify as a RIC if it determines that treatment as a corporation for a particular year would be in its best interests.
Taxation of U.S. Shareholders
A “U.S. Shareholder” generally is a beneficial owner of Shares which is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
| · | a citizen or individual resident of the United States; |
| · | a corporation or other entity treated as a corporation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state or the District of Columbia; |
| · | a trust, if a court in the United States has primary supervision over its administration and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all decisions of the trust, or the trust has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person; or |
| · | an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source. |
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Distributions by the Fund generally are taxable to U.S. Shareholders as ordinary income or capital gains. Distributions of the Fund’s “investment company taxable income” (which is, generally, the Fund’s net ordinary income plus realized net short-term capital gains in excess of realized net long-term capital losses) will be taxable as ordinary income to U.S. Shareholders to the extent of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional Shares. To the extent such distributions paid by the Fund to non-corporate U.S. Shareholders (including individuals) are attributable to dividends from U.S. corporations and certain qualified foreign corporations, such “qualifying dividends” may be eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. federal income tax. Distributions of the Fund’s net capital gains (which is generally the Fund’s realized net long-term capital gains in excess of realized net short-term capital losses) properly designated by the Fund as “capital gain dividends” will be taxable to a U.S. Shareholder as long-term capital gains that are currently taxable at a maximum U.S. federal income tax rate of 20% in the case of individuals, trusts or estates, regardless of the U.S. Shareholder’s holding period for its Shares and regardless of whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional Shares. Distributions in excess of the Fund’s earnings and profits first will reduce a U.S. Shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in such Shareholder’s common stock and, after the adjusted basis is reduced to zero, will constitute capital gains to such U.S. Shareholder.
In the event that the Fund retains any net capital gains, the Fund may designate the retained amounts as undistributed capital gains in a notice to the Fund’s Shareholders. If a designation is made, Shareholders would include in income, as long-term capital gains, their proportionate share of the undistributed amounts, but would be allowed a credit or refund, as the case may be, for their proportionate share of the corporate U.S. federal income tax paid by the Fund. In addition, the tax basis of Shares owned by a U.S. Shareholder would be increased by an amount equal to the difference between (i) the amount included in the U.S. Shareholder’s income as long-term capital gains and (ii) the U.S. Shareholder’s proportionate share of the corporate U.S. federal income tax paid by the Fund.
For purposes of determining (i) whether the Annual Distribution Requirement is satisfied for any year and (ii) the amount of distributions paid for that year, the Fund may, under certain circumstances, elect to treat a distribution that is paid during the following taxable year as if it had been paid during the taxable year in question. If the Fund makes such an election, the U.S. Shareholder will still be treated as receiving the distribution in the taxable year in which the distribution is made. However, any distribution declared by the Fund in October, November or December of any calendar year, payable to Shareholders of record on a specified date in such a month and actually paid during January of the following year, will be treated as if it had been paid by the Fund and received by the Fund’s U.S. Shareholders on December 31 of the year in which the distribution was declared.
A U.S. Shareholder participating in the DRIP will be taxed on the amount of such distribution in the same manner as if such Shareholder had received such distribution in cash. Any stock received in a purchase under the DRIP will have a holding period for tax purposes commencing on the day following the day on which Shares are credited to a U.S. Shareholder’s account.
A U.S. Shareholder generally will recognize taxable gain or loss if the U.S. Shareholder sells or otherwise disposes of its Shares. The amount of gain or loss will be measured by the difference between such U.S. Shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in the Shares sold and the amount of the proceeds received in exchange. Any gain arising from such sale or disposition generally will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Shareholder has held its Shares for more than one year. Otherwise, it will be classified as short-term capital gain or loss. However, any capital loss arising from the sale or disposition of Shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of the amount of capital gain dividends received, or undistributed capital gain deemed received, with respect to such Shares. In addition, all or a portion of any loss recognized upon a disposition of Shares may be disallowed if other Shares are purchased (whether through reinvestment of distributions or otherwise) within 30 days before or after the disposition.
In general, individual U.S. Shareholders currently are subject to a maximum U.S. federal income tax rate of 20% on their net capital gain (i.e., the excess of realized net long-term capital gains over realized net short-term capital losses), including any long-term capital gain derived from an investment in Shares. Such rate is lower than the maximum rate on ordinary income currently payable by individuals. Corporate U.S. Shareholders currently are subject to U.S. federal income tax on net capital gain at the maximum 21% rate also applied to ordinary income. Non-corporate U.S. Shareholders with net capital losses for a year (i.e., capital losses in excess of capital gains) generally may deduct up to $3,000 of such losses against their ordinary income each year; any net capital losses of a non-corporate U.S. Shareholder in excess of $3,000 generally may be carried forward and used in subsequent years as provided in the Code. Corporate U.S. Shareholders generally may not deduct any net capital losses for a year but may carry back such losses for three years or carry forward such losses for five years.
The Code requires the Fund to report U.S. Shareholders’ cost basis, gain/loss, and holding period to the IRS on IRS Form 1099s when “covered” securities are sold. For purposes of these reporting requirements, all of the Fund’s Shares acquired by non-tax exempt Shareholders, including those acquired through DRIP, will be considered “covered” securities. The Fund intends to choose FIFO (“first-in, first-out”) as the Fund’s default tax lot identification method for all Shareholders. A tax lot identification method is the way the Fund will determine which specific Shares are deemed to be sold when there are multiple purchases on different dates at differing transaction prices, and the entire position is not sold at one time. The Fund’s default tax lot identification method is the method “covered” securities will be reported on your IRS Form 1099 if you do not select a specific tax lot identification method. You may choose a method different than the Fund’s standing method and will be able to do so from the time you are admitted as a Shareholder up through and until the sale of the “covered” securities. For those securities defined as “covered” under current IRS cost basis tax reporting regulations, the Fund is responsible for maintaining accurate cost basis and tax lot information for tax reporting purposes. The Fund is not responsible for the reliability or accuracy of the information for those securities that are not “covered.” You are encouraged to refer to the appropriate Treasury Regulations or consult your tax adviser with regard to your personal circumstances and any decisions you may make with respect to choosing a tax lot identification method.
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The Fund may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax, or backup withholding, currently at a rate of 24%, from all distributions to any non-corporate U.S. Shareholder (i) who fails to furnish the Fund with a correct taxpayer identification number or a certificate that such Shareholder is exempt from backup withholding or (ii) with respect to whom the IRS notifies the Fund that such Shareholder has failed to properly report certain interest and dividend income to the IRS and to respond to notices to that effect. An individual’s taxpayer identification number is his or her social security number. Any amount withheld under backup withholding is allowed as a credit against the U.S. Shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided that proper information is provided to the IRS.
A U.S. Shareholder that is an individual or estate, or a trust that does not fall into a special class of trusts that is exempt from such tax, will generally be subject to a 3.8% tax on the lesser of (i) the U.S. Shareholder’s “net investment income” for a taxable year and (ii) the excess of the U.S. Shareholder’s modified adjusted gross income for such taxable year over $200,000 ($250,000 in the case of joint filers). For these purposes, “net investment income” will generally include taxable distributions and deemed distributions paid with respect to the Shares, and net gain attributable to the disposition Shares (in each case, unless such Shares are held in connection with certain trades or businesses), but will be reduced by any deductions properly allocable to such distributions or net gain.
U.S. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers with respect to the U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of Shares, including applicable tax reporting obligations.
Taxation of Tax-Exempt Investors
Under current law, the Fund serves to prevent the attribution to Shareholders of unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”) from being realized by its tax-exempt Shareholders (including, among others, individual retirement accounts, 401(k) accounts, Keogh plans, pension plans and certain charitable entities). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a tax-exempt Shareholder could realize UBTI by virtue of its investment in Shares if such tax-exempt Shareholder borrows to acquire its Shares.
Taxation of Non-U.S. Shareholders
A “Non-U.S. Shareholder” generally is a beneficial owner of Shares that is not a U.S. Shareholder or an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. This includes nonresident alien individuals, foreign trusts or estates and foreign corporations. Whether an investment in Shares is appropriate for a Non-U.S. Shareholder will depend upon that person’s particular circumstances. An investment in Shares may have adverse tax consequences as compared to a direct investment in the assets in which the Fund will invest. Non-U.S. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers with respect to the U.S. federal income tax and withholding tax, and state, local and foreign tax consequences of an investment in Shares, including applicable tax reporting requirements.
Distributions of “investment company taxable income” to Non-U.S. Shareholders (including interest income and realized net short-term capital gains in excess of realized long-term capital losses, which generally would be free of withholding if paid to Non-U.S. Shareholders directly) will be subject to withholding of U.S. federal tax at a 30% rate (or lower rate provided by an applicable treaty) to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits unless the distributions are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of a Non-U.S. Shareholder. If the distributions are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of a Non-U.S. Shareholder, and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, attributable to a permanent establishment in the United States, the distributions will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the rates applicable to U.S. Shareholders, and the Fund will not be required to withhold U.S. federal tax if the Non-U.S. Shareholder complies with applicable certification and disclosure requirements. Special certification requirements apply to a Non-U.S. Shareholder that is a foreign partnership or a foreign trust, and such entities are urged to consult their tax advisers.
Properly designated dividends received by a Non-U.S. Shareholder are generally exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax when they (i) are paid in respect of the Fund’s “qualified net interest income” (generally, the Fund’s U.S.-source interest income, other than certain contingent interest and interest from obligations of a corporation or partnership in which the Fund is at least a 10% shareholder, reduced by expenses that are allocable to such income), or (ii) are paid in connection with the Fund’s “qualified short-term capital gains” (generally, the excess of the Fund’s net short-term capital gain over its long-term capital loss for such taxable year). In order to qualify for this exemption from withholding, a Non-U.S. Shareholder must comply with applicable certification requirements relating to its Non-U.S. status (including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form W-8BEN (for individuals), IRS Form W-8BEN-E (for entities) or an acceptable substitute or successor form). In the case of Shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold even if the Fund designates the payment as qualified net interest income or qualified short-term capital gain. Non-U.S. Shareholders should contact their intermediaries with respect to the application of these rules to their accounts.
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Actual or deemed distributions of the Fund’s net capital gains to a Non-U.S. Shareholder, and gains realized by a Non-U.S. Shareholder upon the sale or repurchase of Shares, will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax unless the distributions or gains, as the case may be, are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the Non-U.S. Shareholder (and, if an income tax treaty applies, are attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Shareholder in the United States,) or, in the case of an individual, the Non-U.S. Shareholder was present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and certain other conditions are met.
If the Fund distributes its net capital gains in the form of deemed rather than actual distributions, a Non-U.S. Shareholder will be entitled to a U.S. federal income tax credit or tax refund equal to the non-U.S. Shareholder’s allocable share of the corporate-level tax the Fund pays on the capital gains deemed to have been distributed; however, in order to obtain the refund, the Non-U.S. Shareholder must obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number and file a U.S. federal income tax return even if the Non-U.S. Shareholder would not otherwise be required to obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number or file a U.S. federal income tax return.
For corporate Non-U.S. Shareholders, distributions (both cash and in Shares), and gains realized upon the sale or repurchase of Shares that are effectively connected to a U.S. trade or business may, under certain circumstances, be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate (or at a lower rate if provided for by an applicable treaty).
A Non-U.S. Shareholder who is a non-resident alien individual may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding of U.S. federal income tax on dividends unless the Non-U.S. Shareholder provides the Fund or the Administrator with an IRS Form W-8BEN or an acceptable substitute form or otherwise meets documentary evidence requirements for establishing that it is a Non-U.S. Shareholder or otherwise establishes an exemption from backup withholding.
Pursuant to U.S. withholding provisions commonly referred to as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”), payments of most types of income from sources within the United States (as determined under applicable U.S. federal income tax principles), such as interest and dividends, to a foreign financial institution, investment funds and other non-U.S. persons generally will be subject to a 30% U.S. federal withholding tax, unless certain information reporting and other applicable requirements are satisfied. Any Non-U.S. Shareholder that either does not provide the relevant information or is otherwise not compliant with FATCA may be subject to this withholding tax on certain distributions from the Fund. Any taxes required to be withheld under these rules must be withheld even if the relevant income is otherwise exempt (in whole or in part) from withholding of U.S. federal income tax, including under an income tax treaty between the United States and the beneficial owner’s country of tax residence. Each Non-U.S. Shareholder should consult its tax advisers regarding the possible implications of this withholding tax (and the reporting obligations that will apply to such Non-U.S. Shareholder, which may include providing certain information in respect of such Non-U.S. Shareholder’s beneficial owners).
* * * * *
THE TAX AND OTHER MATTERS DESCRIBED IN THIS PROSPECTUS DO NOT CONSTITUTE, AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS, LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE TO PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS. EACH INVESTOR SHOULD CONSULT ITS TAX ADVISER AS TO THE U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND NON-U.S. TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF SHARES, INCLUDING APPLICABLE TAX REPORTING OBLIGATIONS.
ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) and the Code impose certain requirements on employee benefit plans to which ERISA applies, and on those persons who are fiduciaries with respect to such plans. The Code imposes certain requirements on certain other plans (such as individual retirement accounts and Keogh plans (and their fiduciaries)) that, although not subject to ERISA, are subject to certain similar rules of the Code (such employee benefit plans subject to ERISA and such other plans, collectively, “Plans.”) In accordance with ERISA’s general fiduciary standards, before investing in the Fund, a Plan fiduciary should determine whether such an investment is permitted under the governing Plan instruments and is appropriate for the Plan in view of its overall investment policy and the composition and diversification of its portfolio. Moreover, ERISA and the Code require that certain reporting and disclosure be made with respect to Plan assets, that Plan assets generally be held in trust, and that the indicia of ownership of Plan assets be maintained within the jurisdiction of district courts of the United States. Thus, a Plan fiduciary considering an investment in the Fund should consult with its legal counsel concerning all the legal implications of investing in the Fund, especially the issues discussed in the following paragraphs.
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Unless statutory or administrative exemptions are available, Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code prohibit a broad range of transactions involving Plan assets and persons who have certain specified relationships to a Plan (“parties in interest” within the meaning of ERISA and “disqualified persons” within the meaning of the Code) and impose additional prohibitions on parties in interest and disqualified persons who are Plan fiduciaries. These prohibitions also apply with respect to any entity whose assets consist of Plan assets by reason of Plans’ investment in the entity. Certain prospective Plan investors may currently maintain relationships with the Adviser and/or entities that are affiliated with the Fund, and, as a result, one or more of such entities may be deemed to be a “party in interest” or “disqualified person” with respect to (including a fiduciary of) any such prospective Plan investor.
Because the Fund is registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, the assets of the Fund will not be deemed to constitute Plan assets.
Employee benefit plans that are governmental plans (as defined in Section 3(32) of ERISA) are not subject to requirements of ERISA and the Code discussed above but may be subject to materially similar provisions of other applicable federal or state law or may be subject to other legal restrictions on their ability to invest in the Fund. Accordingly, any such governmental plans and the fiduciaries of such plans should consult with their legal counsel concerning all the legal implications of investing in the Fund.
THE FUND’S SALE OF SHARES TO PLANS IS IN NO RESPECT A REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY BY THE FUND, THE ADVISER OR ANY OF THEIR AFFILIATES, OR BY ANY OTHER PERSON ASSOCIATED WITH THE SALE OF THE SHARES, THAT SUCH INVESTMENT BY PLANS MEETS ALL RELEVANT LEGAL REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO PLANS GENERALLY OR TO ANY PARTICULAR PLAN, OR THAT SUCH INVESTMENT IS OTHERWISE APPROPRIATE FOR PLANS GENERALLY OR FOR ANY PARTICULAR PLAN.
ELIGIBLE INVESTORS
Each prospective investor in the Fund will be required to certify that it is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act and a “qualified client” within the meaning of Rule 205-3 under the Advisers Act. The criteria for qualifying as a “qualified client” and “accredited investor” are set forth in the subscription document that must be completed by each prospective investor.
Shares are being offered only to investors that meet the criteria for qualifying as “qualified clients” and “accredited investors” who are either (i) U.S. persons for U.S. federal income tax purposes or (ii) non-U.S. persons that meet additional eligibility standards as defined by the Fund in its sole discretion. Investors who meet such qualifications are referred to in this Prospectus as “Eligible Investors.” The qualifications required to invest in the Fund will appear in subscription documents that must be completed by each prospective investor. Existing Shareholders who request to purchase additional Shares will be required to qualify as “Eligible Investors” and to complete an additional investor certification prior to any additional purchase.
Prospective investors that are non-U.S. persons under the Securities Act or for U.S. federal income tax purposes must request a copy of supplemental offering materials without charge by writing to MVP Private Markets Fund, c/o ALPS Fund Services, Inc. 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, CO 80203, or by calling the Fund toll-free at 844-663-0164. See “CERTAIN TAX CONSIDERATIONS—Taxation of Non-U.S. Shareholders.”
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
The Fund is authorized to offer three separate classes of Shares designated as Class A Shares, Class I Shares and Class D Shares. While the Fund expects to offer three classes of Shares, it may offer other classes of Shares as well in the future.
From time to time, the Board may create and offer additional classes of Shares, or may vary the characteristics of the Class A Shares, Class I Shares and Class D Shares described herein, including without limitation, in the following respects: (1) the amount of fees permitted by a distribution and/or service plan as to such class; (2) voting rights with respect to a distribution and/or service plan as to such class; (3) different class designations; (4) the impact of any class expenses directly attributable to a particular class of Shares; (5) differences in any dividends and net asset values resulting from differences in fees under a distribution and/or service plan or in class expenses; (6) the addition of sales loads; (7) any conversion features, as permitted under the Investment Company Act.
PURCHASING SHARES
Purchase Terms
The minimum initial investment in the Fund by any investor in Class A Shares is $50,000, the minimum initial investment for Class I Shares is $5,000,000 and the minimum initial investment for Class D Shares is $50,000. However, the Fund, in its sole discretion, may accept investments below these minimums. Investors subscribing through a given broker/dealer or registered investment adviser may have shares aggregated to meet these minimums, so long as denominations are not less than $50,000 and incremental contributions are not less than $5,000. The purchase price of Shares on the Initial Closing Date will be $10.00 per Share, and thereafter the purchase price for Shares is based on the net asset value per Share as of the date such Shares are purchased. Fractions of Shares will be issued to one one-thousandth of a Share.
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Class A Shares and Class D Shares are sold at the public offering price, which is the net asset value plus an initial maximum 3.50% sales charge, which may vary with the amount you invest. This means that part of your investment in the Fund will be used to pay the sales charge. Some distributors may offer breakpoints, so investors should consult with their financial intermediary.
Class I Shares are not subject to any initial sales charge.
Shares will generally be offered for purchase as of the first business day of each month, except that Shares may be offered more or less frequently as determined by the Board in its sole discretion. The Board may also suspend or terminate offerings of Shares at any time.
Except as otherwise permitted by the Board, initial and subsequent purchases of Shares will be payable in cash. Each initial or subsequent purchase of Shares will be payable in one installment which will generally be due (i) three business days prior to the date of the proposed acceptance of the purchase set by the Fund, which is expected to be the last day of each calendar month (the “Acceptance Date”), where funds are remitted by wire transfer, or (ii) ten business days prior to the Acceptance Date, where funds are remitted by check. A prospective investor must also submit a completed subscription document (including investor certifications) at least five business days before the Acceptance Date. The Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to accept or reject any subscription to purchase Shares in the Fund at any time. Although the Fund may, in its sole discretion, elect to accept a subscription prior to receipt of cleared funds, an investor will not become a Shareholder until cleared funds have been received. In the event that cleared funds and/or a properly completed subscription document (including investor certifications) are not received from a prospective investor prior to the cut-off dates pertaining to a particular offering, the Fund may hold the relevant funds and subscription document for processing in the next offering.
Pending any offering, funds received from prospective investors will be placed in an account with the Transfer Agent. On the date of any closing, the balance in the account with respect to each investor whose investment is accepted will be invested in the Fund on behalf of such investor. Any interest earned with respect to such account will be paid to the Fund and allocated pro rata among Shareholders.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Futures Transactions
The Fund does not currently expect to make investments in futures and intends to claim an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act of 1974, as amended (the “CEA”). Therefore, the Fund is not subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator under the CEA. In February 2012, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) adopted certain regulatory changes that will subject the adviser of an investment company to registration as a Commodity Pool Operator (“CPO”) if the investment company is unable to comply with certain trading and marketing limitations.
With respect to investments in swap transactions, commodity futures, commodity options or certain other derivatives used for purposes other than bona fide hedging purposes, an investment company must meet one of the following tests under the amended regulations in order to claim an exemption from being considered a “commodity pool” or a CPO. First, the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish an investment company’s position in such investments may not exceed 5% of the liquidation value of the investment company’s portfolio (after accounting for unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such investments). Alternatively, the aggregate net notional value of those positions, as determined at the time the most recent position was established, may not exceed 100% of the net asset value of the investment company’s portfolio (after accounting for unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions). In addition to meeting one of the foregoing trading limitations, the investment company may not market itself as a commodity pool or otherwise as a vehicle for trading in the commodity futures, commodity options or swaps and derivatives markets. In the event that the Adviser was required to register as a CPO, the disclosure and operations of the Fund would need to comply with all applicable CFTC regulations. Compliance with these additional registration and regulatory requirements would increase the Fund’s operational expenses. Other potentially adverse regulatory initiatives could also develop. A related CFTC proposal to harmonize applicable CFTC and SEC regulations could, if adopted, mitigate certain disclosure and operational burdens if CPO registration were required.]
In October 2020, the SEC adopted new regulations governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. The Fund will be required to implement and comply with new Rule 18f-4 by the third quarter of 2022. Once implemented, Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives a fund can enter into, eliminate the asset segregation framework currently used by funds to comply with Section 18 of the Investment Company Act, treat derivatives as senior securities so that a failure to comply with the limits would result in a statutory violation and require funds whose use of derivatives is more than a limited specified exposure to establish and maintain a comprehensive derivatives risk management program and appoint a derivatives risk manager. The nature of the final regulation is uncertain at this time, but the Fund may have difficulty adjusting its investment portfolio and strategy in order to comply with such regulations.
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Subsidiaries
The Fund may make investments through wholly-owned subsidiaries (“Subsidiaries”) for tax or risk management purposes. Such Subsidiaries will not be registered under the Investment Company Act. However, the Fund will wholly own and control any Subsidiaries. The Board has oversight responsibility for the investment activities of the Fund, including its investment in any Subsidiary, and the Fund’s role as sole member or shareholder of any Subsidiary. To the extent applicable to the investment activities of a Subsidiary, the Subsidiary will follow the same compliance policies and procedures as the Fund. The Fund would “look through” any such Subsidiary to determine compliance with its investment policies. Each investment adviser to any such foreign subsidiary will comply with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act with respect to advisory contract approval, including that (i) material amendments to any such subsidiary’s advisory contract must be approved by the Fund’s shareholders or the Fund’s Board of Trustees in the manner and to the extent that the Fund’s advisory agreement must be approved by the Fund’s shareholders or the Fund’s Board of Trustees; and (ii) the Fund’s shareholders will have the ability to vote to terminate the subsidiary’s advisory agreements to the extent that they can vote to terminate the Fund’s advisory agreement.
SUMMARY OF THE AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
An investor in the Fund will be a Shareholder of the Fund and his or her rights in the Fund will be established and governed by the Agreement and Declaration of Trust that is included as Appendix A to this Prospectus. A prospective investor and his or her adviser should carefully review the Agreement and Declaration of Trust as each Shareholder will agree to be bound by its terms and conditions. The following is a summary description of additional items and of select provisions of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust that may not be described elsewhere in this Prospectus. The description of such items and provisions is not definitive and reference should be made to the complete text of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust.
Shareholders; Additional Classes of Shares
Persons who purchase Shares will be Shareholders of the Fund. The Adviser may invest in the Fund as a Shareholder.
In addition, to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act and subject to the Fund’s exemptive relief from the SEC, the Fund reserves the right to issue additional classes of Shares in the future subject to fees, charges, repurchase rights, and other characteristics different from those of the Shares offered in this Prospectus.
Liability of Shareholders
Under Delaware law and the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, each Shareholder will be liable for the debts and obligations of the Fund only to the extent of any contributions to the capital of the Fund (plus any accretions in value thereto prior to withdrawal) and a Shareholder, in the sole discretion of the Board, may be obligated to return to the Fund amounts distributed to the Shareholder, or the Board may reduce any amount payable by the Fund to a Shareholder in respect of a repurchase of Shares, in accordance with the Agreement and Declaration of Trust in certain circumstances. See “REPURCHASES OF SHARES—Periodic Repurchases.”
Legal Proceedings
The Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides that by virtue of becoming a shareholder of the Fund, each shareholder shall be held expressly to have agreed to be bound by the provisions of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust. However, shareholders should be aware that they cannot waive their rights under the federal securities laws. The Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides a detailed process for the bringing of derivative actions by shareholders for claims other than federal securities law claims beyond the process otherwise required by law. This derivative actions process is intended to permit legitimate inquiries and claims while avoiding the time, expense, distraction, and other harm that can be caused to a Fund or its shareholders as a result of spurious shareholder demands and derivative actions. Prior to bringing a derivative action, a demand by the complaining shareholder must first be made on the Trustees. The Agreement and Declaration of Trust details conditions that must be met with respect to the demand. Following receipt of the demand, the Trustees must be afforded a reasonable amount of time to investigate and consider the demand. The Trustees will be entitled to retain counsel or other advisors in considering the merits of the request and shall require an undertaking by the shareholders making such request to reimburse the Fund for the expense of any such advisors in the event that the Trustees determine not to bring such action. The Fund’s process for bringing derivative suits may be more restrictive than other investment companies. The process for derivative actions for the Fund also may make it more expensive for a shareholder to bring a suit than if the shareholder was not required to follow such a process.
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Limitation of Liability; Indemnification
The Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees and former Trustees of the Board and officers and former officers of the Fund shall not be liable to the Fund or any of the Shareholders for any loss or damage occasioned by any act or omission in the performance of their services as such in the absence of willful misfeasance or gross negligence of the duties involved in the conduct of their office or as otherwise required by applicable law. The Agreement and Declaration of Trust also contains provisions for the indemnification, to the extent permitted by law, of the Trustees and former Trustees of the Board and officers and former officers of the Fund (as well as certain other related parties) by the Fund (but not by the Shareholders individually) against any liability and expense to which any of them may be liable that arise in connection with the performance of their activities on behalf of the Fund. None of these persons shall be personally liable to any Shareholder for the repayment of any positive balance in the Shareholder’s capital account or for contributions by the Shareholder to the capital of the Fund or by reason of any change in the federal or state income tax laws applicable to the Fund or its investors. The rights of indemnification and exculpation provided under the Agreement and Declaration of Trust shall not be construed so as to limit liability or provide for indemnification of the Trustees and former Trustees of the Board, officers and former officers of the Fund, and the other persons entitled to such indemnification for any liability (including liability under applicable federal or state securities laws which, under certain circumstances, impose liability even on persons that act in good faith), to the extent (but only to the extent) that such indemnification or limitation on liability would be in violation of applicable law, but shall be construed so as to effectuate the applicable provisions of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Amendment of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust
The Agreement and Declaration of Trust may generally be amended, in whole or in part, with the approval of a majority of the Board (including a majority of the Independent Trustees, if required by the Investment Company Act) and without the approval of the Shareholders unless the approval of Shareholders is required under the Investment Company Act. However, certain amendments to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust involving capital accounts and allocations thereto may not be made without the written consent of each Shareholder materially adversely affected thereby or unless each Shareholder has received written notice of the amendment and any Shareholder objecting to the amendment has been allowed a reasonable opportunity (pursuant to any procedures as may be prescribed by the Board) to have all of its Shares repurchased by the Fund.
Term, Dissolution, and Liquidation
The Fund shall be dissolved:
| (1) | upon the affirmative vote to dissolve the Fund by a majority of the Trustees of the Board; or |
| (2) | as required by operation of law. |
Upon the occurrence of any event of dissolution, one or more Trustees of the Board or the Adviser, acting as liquidator under appointment by the Board (or another liquidator, if the Board does not appoint one or more Trustees of the Board or the Adviser to act as liquidator or is unable to perform this function) is charged with winding up the affairs of the Fund and liquidating its assets. Upon the liquidation of the Fund, after establishment of appropriate reserves for contingencies in such amounts as the Board or the liquidator, as applicable, deems appropriate in its sole discretion, the Fund’s assets will be distributed: (i) first to satisfy the debts, liabilities, and obligations of the Fund (other than debts to Shareholders) including actual or anticipated liquidation expenses; (ii) next to repay debts, liabilities and obligations owing to the Shareholders; and (iii) finally to the Shareholders proportionately in accordance with the balances in their respective capital accounts. Assets may be distributed in kind on a pro rata basis if the Board or liquidator determines that such a distribution would be in the interests of the Shareholders in facilitating an orderly liquidation.
The Board may, in its sole discretion, and if determined to be in the best interests of the Shareholders, distribute the assets of the Fund into and through a liquidating trust to effect the liquidation of the Fund. The use of a liquidating trust would be subject to the regulatory requirements of the Investment Company Act and applicable Delaware law, and could result in additional expenses to the Shareholders.
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REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
The Fund will furnish to Shareholders as soon as practicable after the end of each of its taxable years such information as is necessary for them to complete U.S. federal and state income tax or information returns, along with any other tax information required by law.
As permitted by SEC regulations, an unaudited semi-annual and an audited annual report, each prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP will be made available on a website within 70 days after the close of the period for which the report is being made, or as otherwise required by the Investment Company Act. Shareholders will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report, unless a shareholder specifically requests paper copies of the reports.
FISCAL YEAR
The Fund’s first fiscal year will conclude on March 31, 2022. Thereafter, the Fund’s fiscal year will be the 12-month period ending on March 31. The Fund’s first taxable year will conclude on September 30, 2022. Thereafter, the Fund’s taxable year will be the 12-month period ending on September 30.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM; LEGAL COUNSEL
The Board has selected Cohen & Company, Ltd., located at 151 North Franklin Street, Suite 575, Chicago, IL 60606 as independent registered public accountants for the Fund.
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, One Logan Square, Suite 2000, Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996, serves as counsel to the Fund.
INQUIRIES
Inquiries concerning the Fund and the Shares (including procedures for purchasing Shares) should be directed to the Fund’s Administrator at 844-663-0164.
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APPENDIX A
MVP
PRIVATE MARKETS FUND
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
Dated: April 21, 2021
A-1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | ||
| article I NAME AND DEFINITIONS | 1 | |
| Section 1.1 | Name | 1 |
| Section 1.2 | Definitions | 1 |
| article II BENEFICIAL INTEREST | 2 | |
| Section 2.1 | Shares of Beneficial Interest | 2 |
| Section 2.2 | Issuance of Shares | 2 |
| Section 2.3 | Register of Shares and Share Certificates | 3 |
| Section 2.4 | Transfer of Shares | 3 |
| Section 2.5 | Treasury Shares | 4 |
| Section 2.6 | Establishment of Classes | 4 |
| Section 2.7 | Investment in the Trust | 4 |
| Section 2.8 | No Preemptive Rights | 4 |
| Section 2.9 | Conversion Rights | 5 |
| Section 2.10 | Legal Proceedings | 5 |
| Section 2.11 | Status of Shares | 6 |
| article III THE TRUSTEES | 6 | |
| Section 3.1 | Management of the Trust | 6 |
| Section 3.2 | Term of Office of Trustees | 7 |
| Section 3.3 | Vacancies and Appointment of Trustees | 7 |
| Section 3.4 | Temporary Absence of Trustee | 8 |
| Section 3.5 | Number of Trustees | 8 |
| Section 3.6 | Effect of Death, Resignation, Etc. of a Trustee | 8 |
| Section 3.7 | Ownership of Assets of the Trust | 8 |
| Section 3.8 | No Accounting | 8 |
| article IV POWERS OF THE TRUSTEES | 8 | |
| Section 4.1 | Powers | 8 |
| Section 4.2 | Issuance and Repurchase of Shares | 12 |
| Section 4.3 | Trustees and Officers as Shareholders | 12 |
| Section 4.4 | Action by the Trustees and Committees | 12 |
| Section 4.5 | Chairman of the Trustees | 13 |
| Section 4.6 | Principal Transactions | 13 |
| article V INVESTMENT ADVISER, INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISER, PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER, ADMINISTRATOR, TRANSFER AGENT, CUSTODIAN AND OTHER CONTRACTORS | 13 | |
| Section 5.1 | Certain Contracts | 13 |
| article VI SHAREHOLDER VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS | 15 | |
| Section 6.1 | Voting | 15 |
| Section 6.2 | Meetings | 16 |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
| Page | ||
| Section 6.3 | Quorum and Required Vote | 16 |
| Section 6.4 | Action by Written Consent | 16 |
| article VII DISTRIBUTIONS AND REPURCHASES | 17 | |
| Section 7.1 | Distributions | 17 |
| Section 7.2 | Transfer of Shares | 17 |
| Section 7.3 | Repurchases | 18 |
| Section 7.4 | Redemptions at the Option of the Trust | 18 |
| Section 7.5 | Suspension of the Right of Repurchase | 19 |
| Section 7.6 | Redemption of Shares to Qualify as a Regulated Investment Company | 19 |
| Section 7.7 | Net Asset Value | 19 |
| article VIII LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION | 19 | |
| Section 8.1 | Limitation of Liability | 19 |
| Section 8.2 | Indemnification | 20 |
| Section 8.3 | Indemnification Determinations | 20 |
| Section 8.4 | Indemnification Not Exclusive | 20 |
| Section 8.5 | Shareholders | 20 |
| article IX MISCELLANEOUS | 21 | |
| Section 9.1 | Trust Not a Partnership | 21 |
| Section 9.2 | Trustees’ and Officers’ Good Faith Action, Expert Advice, No Bond or Surety | 21 |
| Section 9.3 | Establishment of Record Dates | 22 |
| Section 9.4 | Dissolution and Termination of Trust | 22 |
| Section 9.5 | Merger, Consolidation, Incorporation | 23 |
| Section 9.6 | Filing of Copies, References, Headings | 23 |
| Section 9.7 | Applicable Law | 24 |
| Section 9.8 | Amendments | 24 |
| Section 9.9 | Fiscal Year | 25 |
| Section 9.10 | Provisions in Conflict with Law | 25 |
| Section 9.11 | Allocation of Certain Expenses | 25 |
| Section 9.12 | Delivery by Electronic Transmission or Otherwise | 25 |
MVP
PRIVATE MARKETS FUND
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
THIS AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST of MVP Private Markets Fund, a Delaware statutory trust, made as of April 21, 2021, by the undersigned Trustee.
WHEREAS, the undersigned Trustee desires to establish a trust for the investment and reinvestment of funds contributed thereto;
WHEREAS, the Trustee desires that the beneficial interest in the trust assets be divided into transferable shares of beneficial interest, as hereinafter provided;
WHEREAS, the Trustee declares that all money and property contributed to the trust established hereunder shall be held and managed in trust for the benefit of the holders of the shares of beneficial interest issued hereunder and subject to the provisions hereof;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the undersigned Trustee hereby declares that all money and property contributed to the trust hereunder shall be held and managed in trust under this Agreement and Declaration of Trust (“Trust Instrument”) as herein set forth below.
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I
NAME AND DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Name. The name of the trust established hereby is “MVP Private Markets Fund.”
Section 1.2 Definitions. Wherever used herein, unless otherwise required by the context or specifically provided:
(a) “Act” means the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 Del. C. §§ 3801 et seq., as from time to time amended;
(b) “By-laws” means the By-laws referred to in Section 4.1(e) hereof, as from time to time amended;
(c) The terms “Affiliated Person,” “Assignment,” “Commission,” “Interested Person” and “Principal Underwriter” shall have the meanings given them in the 1940 Act. “Majority Shareholder Vote” shall have the same meaning as the term “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” is given in the 1940 Act;
(d) “Class” means any division of Shares of the Trust, which Class is or has been established in accordance with the provisions of Article II hereof;
(e) “Net Asset Value” means the net asset value of each Class of the Trust determined in the manner provided in Section 7.7 hereof;
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(f) “Outstanding Shares” means those Shares recorded from time to time in the books of the Trust or its transfer agent as then issued and outstanding, but shall not include Shares which have been redeemed or repurchased by the Trust and which are at the time held in the treasury of the Trust;
(g) “Shareholder” means a record owner of Outstanding Shares of the Trust;
(h) “Shares” means the transferable units of beneficial interest into which the beneficial interest of the Trust or Class thereof shall be divided and may include fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares;
(i) “Trust” refers to MVP Private Markets Fund;
(j) “Trustee” or “Trustees” means the person or persons who has or have signed this Trust Instrument, so long as such person or persons shall continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other persons who may from time to time be duly qualified and serving as Trustees in accordance with the provisions of Article III hereof, and reference herein to a Trustee or to the Trustees shall refer to the individual Trustees in their capacity as Trustees hereunder;
(k) “Trust Property” means any and all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, which is owned or held by or for the account of the Trust, or the Trustees on behalf of the Trust;
(l) “Valuation Date” means the date on which the value of Shares being repurchased will be determined by the Trustees in their sole discretion;
(m) The “1940 Act” refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations thereunder and exemptions granted therefrom, all as may be amended from time to time.
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II
BENEFICIAL INTEREST
Section 2.1 Shares of Beneficial Interest. The beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided into such transferable Shares of one or more separate and distinct Classes as the Trustees shall from time to time create and establish. The number of Shares of each Class authorized hereunder is unlimited. Each Share shall have a par value of $0.001, unless otherwise determined by the Trustees in connection with the creation and establishment of a Class. All Shares issued hereunder, including without limitation, Shares issued in connection with a dividend in Shares or a split or reverse split of Shares, shall be fully paid and nonassessable.
Section 2.2 Issuance of Shares. The Trustees in their discretion may, from time to time, without vote of the Shareholders, issue Shares of each Class to such party or parties and for such amount and type of consideration (or for no consideration if pursuant to a Share dividend or split-up), subject to applicable law, including cash or securities (including Shares of a different Class), at such time or times and on such terms as the Trustees may deem appropriate, and may in such manner acquire other assets (including the acquisitions of assets subject to, and in connection with, the assumption of liabilities) and businesses. In connection with any issuance of Shares, the Trustees may issue fractional Shares and Shares held in the treasury. The Trustees may from time to time divide or combine the Shares into a greater or lesser number without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interests in the Trust. The Trustees may classify and reclassify any unissued Shares or any Shares previously issued and reacquired of any Class into one or more Classes that may be established and designated from time to time.
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Any Trustee, officer or other agent of the Trust, and any organization in which any such person is interested, may acquire, own, hold and dispose of Shares of any Class of the Trust to the same extent as if such person were not a Trustee, officer or other agent of the Trust; and the Trust may issue and sell or cause to be issued and sold and may repurchase Shares of any Class from any such person or any such organization subject only to the general limitations, restrictions or other provisions applicable to the sale or purchase of Shares of such Class generally.
Section 2.3 Register of Shares and Share Certificates. A register shall be kept at the principal office of the Trust or an office of the Trust’s transfer agent which shall contain the names and addresses of the Shareholders of each Class, the number of Shares of that Class held by each of them respectively and a record of all transfers thereof. As to Shares for which no certificate has been issued, such register shall be conclusive as to who are the holders of the Shares and who shall be entitled to receive dividends or other distributions or otherwise to exercise or enjoy the rights of Shareholders. No Shareholder shall be entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution, nor to have notice given to him as herein or in the By-laws provided, until he has given his address to the transfer agent or such other officer or agent of the Trust as shall keep the said register for entry thereon. The Trustees, in their discretion, may authorize the issuance of share certificates and promulgate appropriate rules and regulations as to their use. In the event that one or more certificates are issued, whether in the name of a Shareholder or a nominee, such certificate or certificates shall constitute evidence of ownership of Shares for all purposes, including transfer, assignment or sale of such Shares, subject to such limitations as the Trustees may, in their discretion, prescribe.
Section 2.4 Transfer of Shares. Except as otherwise provided by the Trustees, Shares shall be transferable on the records of the Trust only in accordance with Section 7.2 herein and only by the record holder thereof or by his agent thereunto duly authorized in writing, upon delivery to the Trustees or the Trust’s transfer agent of a duly executed instrument of transfer, together with a Share certificate, if one is outstanding, and such evidence of the genuineness of each such execution and authorization and of such other matters as may be required by the Trustees. Upon such delivery the transfer shall be recorded on the register of the Trust. Until such record is made, the Shareholder of record shall be deemed to be the holder of such Shares for all purposes hereunder and neither the Trustees nor the Trust, nor any transfer agent or registrar nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be affected by any notice of the proposed transfer.
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Section 2.5 Treasury Shares. Shares held in the treasury shall, until reissued pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof, not confer any voting rights on the Trustees, nor shall such Shares be entitled to any dividends or other distributions declared with respect to the Shares.
Section 2.6 Establishment of Classes. The Trustees may from time to time authorize the division of Shares of the Trust into one or more Classes. Separate and distinct records shall be maintained by the Trust for each Class. The Trustees shall have full power and authority, in their sole discretion, and without obtaining any prior authorization or vote of Shareholders of any Class, to establish and designate and to change in any manner any initial or additional Classes and to fix such preferences, voting powers, rights and privileges of such Classes as the Trustees may from time to time determine, to divide or combine the Shares or any Classes into a greater or lesser number, to classify or reclassify any issued Shares or any Classes into one or more Classes, and to take such other action with respect to the Shares as the Trustees may deem desirable.
Unless another time is specified by the Trustees, the establishment and designation of any Class shall be effective upon the adoption of a resolution by the Trustees setting forth such establishment and designation and the preferences, powers, rights and privileges of the Shares of such Class, whether directly in such resolution or by reference to, or approval of, another document that sets forth such relative rights and preferences of such Class including, without limitation, any registration statement of the Trust, or as otherwise provided in such resolution. The Trust may issue any number of Shares of each Class and need not issue certificates for any Shares.
All references to Shares in this Trust Instrument shall be deemed to be Shares of any or all Classes as the context may require. All provisions herein relating to the Trust shall apply equally to each Class of the Trust except as the context otherwise requires.
All Shares of each Class shall represent an equal proportionate interest in the assets belonging to the Trust (subject to the liabilities belonging to that Class), and each Share of any Class shall be equal to each other Share of that Class; but the provisions of this sentence shall not restrict any distinctions permissible under this Section 2.6.
Section 2.7 Investment in the Trust. The Trustees shall accept investments in any Class from such persons and on such terms as they may from time to time authorize. At the Trustees’ discretion, such investments, subject to applicable law, may be in the form of cash or securities in which the Trust is authorized to invest, valued as provided in Section 7.7 hereof. Unless the Trustees otherwise determine, investments shall be credited to each Shareholder’s account in the form of full Shares at the Net Asset Value per Share next determined after the investment is received. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Trustees may, in their sole discretion, (a) fix the Net Asset Value per Share of the initial capital contribution, (b) impose sales or other charges upon investments in the Trust or (c) issue fractional Shares.
Section 2.8 No Preemptive Rights. Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other similar rights to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by the Trust or the Trustees, whether of the same or another Class.
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Section 2.9 Conversion Rights. The Trustees shall have the authority to provide from time to time that the holders of Shares of any Class shall have the right to convert or exchange said Shares for or into Shares of one or more other Classes in accordance with such requirements and procedures as may be established from time to time by the Trustees.
Section 2.10 Legal Proceedings. No person, other than a Trustee, who is not a Shareholder of the Trust or of a particular Class shall be entitled to bring any derivative action, suit or other proceeding on behalf of or with respect to the Trust or such Class. Further, each complaining Shareholder must have been a Shareholder of the Trust or the affected Class, as applicable, at the time of the action or failure to act complained of, or acquired the Shares afterwards by operation of law from a person who was a Shareholder at that time and each complaining Shareholder must be a Shareholder of the Trust or the affected Class, as applicable, as of the time the written demand is made upon the Trustees. No Shareholder may maintain a derivative action with respect to the Trust or any Class of the Trust unless holders of at least ten percent (10%) of the outstanding Shares of the Trust, or 10% of the outstanding Shares of the Class to which such action relates, join in the bringing of such action. All matters relating to the bringing of derivative actions in the right of the Trust shall be governed by this Section 2.10 and Section 3816 of the Act.
In addition to the requirements set forth in Section 3816 of the Act, a Shareholder may bring a derivative action on behalf of the Trust or any Class of the Trust only if the following conditions are met: (a) the Shareholder or Shareholders must make a pre-suit written demand upon the Trustees to bring the subject action unless an effort to cause the Trustees to bring such an action is not likely to succeed; and a demand on the Trustees shall only be deemed not likely to succeed and therefore excused if a majority of the Trustees, or a majority of any committee established to consider the merits of such action, has a personal financial interest in the transaction at issue, and a Trustee shall not be deemed interested in a transaction or otherwise disqualified from ruling on the merits of a Shareholder demand by virtue of the fact that such Trustee receives remuneration for his service as a Trustee of the Trust or as a trustee or director of one or more investment companies that are under common management with or otherwise affiliated with the Trust; and (b) unless a demand is not required under clause (a) of this paragraph, the Trustees must be afforded a reasonable amount of time to consider such Shareholder request and to investigate the basis of such claim; and the Trustees shall be entitled to retain counsel or other advisers in considering the merits of the request and shall require an undertaking by the Shareholders making such request to reimburse the Trust for the expense of any such advisers in the event that the Trustees determine not to bring such action. For purposes of this Section 2.10, the Trustees may designate a committee of one Trustee to consider a Shareholder demand if necessary to create a committee with a majority of Trustees who do not have a personal financial interest in the transaction at issue. If the demand for derivative action has been considered by the Board of Trustees, and a majority of those Trustees who are not deemed to be Interested Persons of the Trust, after considering the merits of the claim, has determined that maintaining a suit would not be in the best interests of the Trust or the affected Class, as applicable, the complaining Shareholders shall be barred from commencing the derivative action. If upon such consideration the appropriate members of the Board of Trustees determine that such a suit should be maintained, then the appropriate officers of the Trust shall commence initiation of that suit and such suit shall proceed directly rather than derivatively. The Board of Trustees, or the appropriate officers of the Trust, shall inform the complaining Shareholders of any decision reached under this paragraph in writing within ten business days of such decision having been reached.
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For purposes of this Section 2.10, a written demand upon the Trustees must include at least the following: (a) a detailed description of the action or failure to act complained of and the facts upon which each such allegation is made; (b) a statement to the effect that the complaining Shareholder(s) believe that they will fairly and adequately represent the interests of similarly situated Shareholders in enforcing the right of the Trust or the affected Class, as applicable, and an explanation of why the complaining Shareholders believe that to be the case; (c) a certification that each complaining Shareholder was a Shareholder of the Trust or the affected Class, as applicable, at the time of the action or failure to act complained of, or acquired the Shares afterwards by operation of law from a person who was a Shareholder at that time and each complaining Shareholder was a Shareholder of the Trust or the affected Class, as applicable, as of the time the written demand upon the Trustees, as well as information reasonably designed to allow the Trustees to verify that certification; and (d) a certification that each complaining Shareholder will be a Shareholder of the Trust or the affected Class, as applicable, as of the commencement of the derivative action.
This Section 2.10 will not apply to claims brought under the federal securities laws.
Section 2.11 Status of Shares. Shares shall be deemed to be personal property giving only the rights provided in this Trust Instrument. Every Shareholder by virtue of having become a Shareholder shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms hereof. The death of a Shareholder during the continuance of the Trust shall not operate to terminate the Trust nor entitle the representative of any deceased Shareholder to an accounting or to take any action in court or elsewhere against the Trust or the Trustees, but only to the rights of said decedent under this Trust. Ownership of Shares shall not entitle the Shareholder to any title in or to the whole or any part of the Trust property or right to call for a partition or division of the same or for an accounting, nor shall the ownership of Shares constitute the Shareholders as partners.
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III
THE TRUSTEES
Section 3.1 Management of the Trust. The Trustees shall have exclusive and absolute control over the Trust Property and over the business of the Trust to the same extent as if the Trustees were the sole owners of the Trust Property and business in their own right, but with such powers of delegation as may be permitted by this Trust Instrument. The Trustees shall have power to conduct the business of the Trust and carry on its operations in any and all of its branches and maintain offices both within and without the State of Delaware, in any and all states of the United States of America, in the District of Columbia, in any and all commonwealths, territories, dependencies, colonies, or possessions of the United States of America, and in any foreign jurisdiction and to do all such other things and execute all such instruments as they deem necessary, proper or desirable in order to promote the interests of the Trust although such things are not herein specifically mentioned. Any determination as to what is in the interests of the Trust made by the Trustees in good faith shall be conclusive. In construing the provisions of this Trust Instrument, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the Trustees.
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The enumeration of any specific power in this Trust Instrument shall not be construed as limiting the aforesaid power. The powers of the Trustees may be exercised without order of or resort to any court.
Except for the Trustees named herein or appointed to fill vacancies pursuant to Section 3.3 hereof, the Trustees shall be elected by the Shareholders owning of record a plurality of the Shares voting at a meeting of Shareholders. The initial Trustee of the Trust shall be Daniel Dwyer.
Section 3.2 Term of Office of Trustees. Subject to any limitations on the term of service imposed by the By-laws or any retirement policy adopted by the Trustees, each Trustee shall hold office during the existence of this Trust, and until its termination as herein provided; except: (a) that any Trustee may resign his trust by written instrument signed by him and delivered to the Chairman, President, Secretary, or other Trustee of the Trust, which shall take effect upon such delivery or upon such later date as is specified therein; (b) that any Trustee may be removed, with or without cause, at any time by written instrument, signed by at least two-thirds of the Trustees prior to such removal, specifying the date when such removal shall become effective; (c) that any Trustee who requests in writing to be retired or who has died, become physically or mentally incapacitated by reason of disease or otherwise, or is otherwise unable to serve, may be retired by written instrument signed by a majority of the other Trustees, specifying the date of his retirement; and (d) that a Trustee may be removed, with or without cause, at any meeting of the Shareholders of the Trust by a vote of Shareholders owning at least two-thirds of the outstanding Shares of the Trust.
Section 3.3 Vacancies and Appointment of Trustees. In the case of the declination to serve, death, resignation, retirement, removal, physical or mental incapacity by reason of disease or otherwise of a Trustee, or a Trustee is otherwise unable to serve, or an increase in the number of Trustees, a vacancy shall occur. Whenever a vacancy in the Board of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled, the other Trustees shall have all the powers hereunder and the certificate of the other Trustees of such vacancy shall be conclusive. In the case of an existing vacancy, the remaining Trustee or Trustees shall fill such vacancy by appointing such other person as such Trustee or Trustees in their discretion shall see fit consistent with the limitations under the 1940 Act, unless such Trustee or Trustees determine, in accordance with Section 3.5, to decrease the size of the Board to the number of remaining Trustees.
An appointment of a Trustee may be made by the Trustees then in office in anticipation of a vacancy to occur by reason of retirement, resignation or increase in number of Trustees effective at a later date, provided that said appointment shall become effective only at or after the effective date of said retirement, resignation or increase in number of Trustees.
An appointment of a Trustee shall be effective upon the acceptance of the person so appointed to serve as Trustee, except that any such appointment in anticipation of a vacancy shall become effective at or after the date such vacancy occurs.
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Section 3.4 Temporary Absence of Trustee. Any Trustee may, by power of attorney, delegate his power for a period not exceeding six months at any one time to any other Trustee or Trustees, provided that in no case shall less than two Trustees personally exercise the other powers hereunder except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless there is only one or two Trustees.
Section 3.5 Number of Trustees. The number of Trustees shall be one, or such other number as shall be fixed from time to time by the Trustees.
Section 3.6 Effect of Death, Resignation, Etc. of a Trustee. The declination to serve, death, resignation, retirement, removal, incapacity, or inability of the Trustees, or any one of them, shall not operate to terminate the Trust or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this Trust Instrument.
Section 3.7 Ownership of Assets of the Trust. Legal title in and beneficial ownership of all of the assets of the Trust shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trust, except that the Trustees may cause legal title in and beneficial ownership of any Trust Property to be held by, or in the name of one or more of the Trustees acting for and on behalf of the Trust, or in the name of any person as nominee acting for and on behalf of the Trust. No Shareholder shall be deemed to have a severable ownership interest in any individual asset of the Trust, or any right of partition or possession thereof, but each Shareholder shall have, except as otherwise provided for herein, a proportionate undivided beneficial interest in the Trust. The Shares shall be personal property giving only the rights specifically set forth in this Trust Instrument. The Trust, or at the determination of the Trustees, one or more of the Trustees or a nominee acting for and on behalf of the Trust, shall be deemed to hold legal title and beneficial ownership of any income earned on securities of the Trust issued by any business entities formed, organized, or existing under the laws of any jurisdiction, including the laws of any foreign country.
Section 3.8 No Accounting. Except to the extent required by the 1940 Act or, if determined to be necessary or appropriate by the other Trustees under circumstances which would justify his or her removal for cause, no person ceasing to be a Trustee for reasons including, but not limited to, death, resignation, retirement, removal or incapacity (nor the estate of any such person) shall be required to make an accounting to the Shareholders or remaining Trustees upon such cessation.
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IV
POWERS OF THE TRUSTEES
Section 4.1 Powers. The Trustees in all instances shall act as principals, and are and shall be free from the control of the Shareholders. The Trustees shall have full power and authority to do any and all acts and to make and execute any and all contracts and instruments that they may consider necessary or appropriate in connection with the management of the Trust. The Trustees shall have full authority and power to make any and all investments which they, in their sole discretion, shall deem proper to accomplish the purpose of this Trust. Subject to any applicable limitation in this Trust Instrument, the Trustees shall have power and authority:
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(a) To invest and reinvest cash and other property, and to hold cash or other property uninvested, and to sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, write options on and lease any or all of the assets of the Trust;
(b) To operate as and carry on the business of an investment company, and exercise all the powers necessary and appropriate to the conduct of such operations, including the power to invest all or any part of its assets in the securities of another investment company;
(c) To borrow money and in this connection issue notes or other evidence of indebtedness; to secure borrowings by mortgaging, pledging or otherwise subjecting as security the Trust Property; to endorse, guarantee, or undertake the performance of an obligation, liability or engagement of any person and to lend Trust Property;
(d) To provide for the distribution of interests of the Trust either through a Principal Underwriter in the manner hereinafter provided for or by the Trust itself, or both, or otherwise pursuant to a plan of distribution of any kind;
(e) To adopt By-laws not inconsistent with this Trust Instrument providing for the conduct of the business of the Trust and to amend and repeal them to the extent that they do not reserve that right to the Shareholders, which By-laws shall be deemed a part of this Trust Instrument and are incorporated herein by reference;
(f) To elect and remove such officers and appoint and terminate such agents and contractors as they consider appropriate, any of whom may be a Trustee, and may provide for the compensation of all of the foregoing;
(g) To establish separate Classes having such relative rights, powers and duties as they may provide, consistent with applicable law;
(h) To employ one or more banks, trust companies or companies that are members of a national securities exchange or such other entities as custodians of any assets of the Trust, subject to the 1940 Act and to any conditions set forth in this Trust Instrument;
(i) To retain one or more transfer agents and shareholder servicing agents, or both;
(j) To set record dates in the manner provided herein or in the By-laws;
(k) To delegate such authority (which delegation may include the power to subdelegate) as they consider desirable to any officers of the Trust and to any investment adviser, manager, administrator, custodian, underwriter or other agent or independent contractor;
(l) To join with other holders of any securities or debt instruments in acting through a committee, depository, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any security or debt instrument with, or transfer any security or debt instrument to, any such committee, depository or trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority with relation to any security or debt instrument (whether or not so deposited or transferred) as the Trustees shall deem proper and to agree to pay, and to pay, such portion of the expenses and compensation of such committee, depository or trustee as the Trustees shall deem proper;
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(m) To enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships and any other combinations or associations;
(n) To pay pensions for faithful service, as deemed appropriate by the Trustees, and to adopt, establish and carry out pension, profit-sharing, share bonus, share purchase, savings, thrift and other retirement, incentive and benefit plans, trusts and provisions, including the purchasing of life insurance and annuity contracts as a means of providing such retirement and other benefits, for any or all of the Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust;
(o) To the extent permitted by law, indemnify any person with whom the Trust has dealings;
(p) To engage in and to prosecute, defend, compromise, abandon, or adjust by arbitration, or otherwise, any actions, suits, proceedings, disputes, claims and demands relating to the Trust, and out of the assets of the Trust to pay or to satisfy any debts, claims or expenses incurred in connection therewith, including those of litigation, and such power shall include without limitation the power of the Trustees or any appropriate committee thereof, in the exercise of their or its good faith business judgment, to dismiss any action, suit, proceeding, dispute, claim or demand, derivative or otherwise, brought by any person, including a Shareholder in its own name or the name of the Trust, whether or not the Trust or any of the Trustees may be named individually therein or the subject matter arises by reason of business for or on behalf of the Trust;
(q) To purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust Property such insurance as they may deem necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business of the Trust, including, without limitation, insurance policies insuring the Trust Property and payment of distributions and principal on its investments, and insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, representatives, employees, agents, investment advisers, managers, administrators, custodians, underwriters, or independent contractors of the Trust individually against all claims and liabilities of every nature arising by reason of holding, being or having held any such office or position, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted by any such person in such capacity, including any action taken or omitted that may be determined to constitute negligence, whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability;
(r) To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, write options on and lease any or all of the assets of the Trust, subject to the provisions of Section 9.4(b) hereof;
(s) To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership, with respect to stock or other securities, debt instruments or property; and to execute and deliver powers of attorney to such person or persons as the Trustees shall deem proper, granting to such person or persons such power and discretion with relation to securities, debt instruments or property as the Trustees shall deem proper;
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(t) To exercise powers and rights of subscription or otherwise which in any manner arise out of ownership of securities or debt instruments;
(u) To hold any security or property in a form not indicating any trust, whether in bearer, book entry, unregistered or other negotiable form; or either in the name of the Trustees or of the Trust or in the name of a custodian, subcustodian or other depository or a nominee or nominees or otherwise;
(v) To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation, issuer or concern, any security or debt instrument of which is held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase or sale of property by such corporation, issuer or concern, and to pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any security or debt instrument held in the Trust;
(w) To litigate, compromise, arbitrate, or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or against the Trust or any matter in controversy including, but not limited to, claims for taxes;
(x) To make distributions of income and of capital gains to Shareholders in the manner herein provided;
(y) To establish, from time to time, a minimum investment for Shareholders in the Trust or in one or more Classes thereof;
(z) To cause each Shareholder, or each Shareholder of any particular Class, to pay directly, in advance or arrears, for charges of the Trust’s custodian or transfer, shareholder servicing or similar agent, an amount fixed from time to time by the Trustees, by setting off such charges due from such Shareholder from declared but unpaid dividends owed such Shareholder and/or by reducing the number of Shares in the account of such Shareholder by that number of full and/or fractional Shares which represents the outstanding amount of such charges due from such Shareholder;
(aa) To establish one or more committees composed of one or more of the Trustees, and to delegate any of the powers of the Trustees to said committees;
(bb) To interpret the investment policies, practices or limitations of the Trust;
(cc) To establish a registered office and have a registered agent in the State of Delaware;
(dd) To compensate or provide for the compensation of the Trustees, officers, advisers, administrators, custodians, other agents, consultants, contractors and employees of the Trust or the Trustees on such terms as they deem appropriate;
(ee) To invest part or all of the Trust Property, or to dispose of part or all of the Trust Property and invest the proceeds of such disposition, in interests issued by one or more other investment companies or pooled portfolios (including investment by means of transfer of part or all of the Trust Property in exchange for an interest or interests in such one or more investment companies or pooled portfolios) all without any requirement of approval by Shareholders. Any such other investment company or pooled portfolio may (but need not) be a trust (formed under the laws of any state or jurisdiction), which is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes; and
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(ff) In general, to carry on any other business in connection with or incidental to any of the foregoing powers, to do everything necessary, suitable or proper for the accomplishment of any purpose or the attainment of any object or the furtherance of any power herein set forth, either alone or in association with others, and to do every other act or thing incidental or appurtenant to or growing out of or connected with the aforesaid business or purposes, objects or powers.
The foregoing clauses shall be construed both as objects and powers, and the foregoing enumeration of specific powers shall not be held to limit or restrict in any manner the general powers of the Trustees. Any action by one or more of the Trustees in their capacity as such hereunder shall be deemed an action on behalf of the Trust, and not an action in an individual capacity.
No one dealing with the Trustees shall be under any obligation to make any inquiry concerning the authority of the Trustees, or to see to the application of any payments made or property transferred to the Trustees or upon their order.
Section 4.2 Issuance and Repurchase of Shares. The Trustees shall have the power to issue, sell, repurchase, redeem, retire, cancel, acquire, hold, resell, reissue, dispose of, exchange, and otherwise deal in Shares; to suspend or terminate the sales of Shares of any Class for any period of time; to establish terms and conditions, including any fees or expenses, regarding the issuance, sale, repurchase, redemption, cancellation, retirement, acquisition, holding, resale, reissuance, disposition or exchange of or dealing in Shares of any Class; and subject to the provisions set forth in Article II and Article VII, to apply to any such repurchase, retirement, cancellation or acquisition of Shares any funds or property of the Trust, or a particular Class of the Trust, with respect to which such Shares are issued.
Section 4.3 Trustees and Officers as Shareholders. Any Trustee, officer or other agent of the Trust may acquire, own and dispose of Shares to the same extent as if such person were not a Trustee, officer or agent; and the Trustees may issue and sell or cause to be issued and sold Shares to and buy such Shares from any such person or any firm or company in which such person invested, subject to the general limitations herein contained as to the sale and purchase of such Shares.
Section 4.4 Action by the Trustees and Committees. The Trustees (and any committee thereof) may act at a meeting held in person or in whole or in part by conference telecommunications equipment. One-third, but not less than two, of the Trustees shall constitute a quorum at any meeting unless there is only one Trustee. Except as the Trustees may otherwise determine, one-third of the members of any committee shall constitute a quorum at any meeting. The vote of a majority of the Trustees (or committee members) present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Trustees (or any committee thereof). The Trustees (and any committee thereof) may also act by written consent signed by a majority of the Trustees (or committee members). Regular meetings of the Trustees may be held at such places and at such times as the Trustees may from time to time determine. Special meetings of the Trustees (and meetings of any committee thereof) may be called orally or in writing by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (or the chairman of any committee thereof) or by any two other Trustees. Notice of the time, date and place of all meetings of the Trustees (or any committee thereof) shall be given by the party calling the meeting to each Trustee (or committee member) by telephone, telefax, telegram or other electronic means sent to the person’s home or business address at least twenty-four hours in advance of the meeting or by written notice mailed to the person’s home or business address at least seventy-two hours in advance of the meeting. Notice of all proposed written consents of Trustees (or committees thereof) shall be given to each Trustee (or committee member) by telephone, telefax, telegram, or first class mail sent to the person’s home or business address. Notice need not be given to any person who attends a meeting without objecting to the lack of notice or who executes a written consent or a written waiver of notice with respect to a meeting. Written consents or waivers may be executed in one or more counterparts. Execution of a written consent or waiver and delivery thereof may be accomplished by telefax or other electronic means approved by the Trustees.
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Section 4.5 Chairman of the Trustees. The Trustees may appoint one of their number to be Chairman of the Board of Trustees. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Trustees at which he is present and may be (but is not required to be) the chief executive officer of the Trust.
Section 4.6 Principal Transactions. Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law, the Trustees may, on behalf of the Trust, buy any securities from or sell any securities to, or lend any assets of the Trust to, any Trustee or officer of the Trust or any firm of which any such Trustee or officer is a member acting as principal, or have any such dealings with any Affiliated Person of the Trust, investment adviser, investment sub-adviser, distributor or transfer agent for the Trust or with any Interested Person of such Affiliated Person or other person; and the Trust may employ any such Affiliated Person or other person, or firm or company in which such Affiliated Person or other person is an Interested Person, as broker, legal counsel, registrar, investment adviser, investment sub-adviser, distributor, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, custodian or in any other capacity upon customary terms.
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V
INVESTMENT ADVISER, INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISER,
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER, ADMINISTRATOR, TRANSFER AGENT,
CUSTODIAN AND OTHER CONTRACTORS
Section 5.1 Certain Contracts. Subject to compliance with the provisions of the 1940 Act, but notwithstanding any limitations of present and future law or custom in regard to delegation of powers by trustees generally, the Trustees may, at any time and from time to time and without limiting the generality of their powers and authority otherwise set forth herein, enter into one or more contracts with any one or more corporations, trusts, associations, partnerships, limited partnerships, other type of organizations, or individuals to provide for the performance and assumption of some or all of the following services, duties and responsibilities to, for or of the Trust and/or the Trustees, and to provide for the performance and assumption of such other services, duties and responsibilities in addition to those set forth below as the Trustees may determine to be appropriate:
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(a) Investment Adviser and Investment Sub-Adviser. The Trustees may in their discretion, from time to time, enter into an investment advisory or management contract or contracts with respect to the Trust whereby the other party or parties to such contract or contracts shall undertake to furnish the Trust with such management, investment advisory, statistical and research facilities and services and such other facilities and services, if any, and all upon such terms and conditions, as the Trustees may in their discretion determine. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Trust Instrument, the Trustees may authorize any investment adviser (subject to such general or specific instructions as the Trustees may from time to time adopt) to effect purchases, sales or exchanges of portfolio securities, other investment instruments of the Trust, or other Trust Property on behalf of the Trustees, or may authorize any officer, agent, or Trustee to effect such purchases, sales or exchanges pursuant to recommendations of the investment adviser (and all without further action by the Trustees). Any such purchases, sales and exchanges shall be deemed to have been authorized by the Trustees.
The Trustees may authorize, subject to applicable requirements of the 1940 Act, the investment adviser to employ, from time to time, one or more sub-advisers to perform such of the acts and services of the investment adviser, and upon such terms and conditions, as may be agreed upon between the investment adviser and sub-adviser. Any reference in this Trust Instrument to the investment adviser shall be deemed to include such sub-advisers, unless the context otherwise requires.
(b) Principal Underwriter. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into an exclusive or non-exclusive underwriting contract or contracts providing for the sale of Shares, whereby the Trust may either agree to sell Shares to the other party to the contract or appoint such other party its sales agent for such Shares. In either case, the contract or contracts shall be on such terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine and may also provide for the repurchase or sale of Shares by such other party as principal or as agent of the Trust.
(c) Administrator. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into one or more contracts whereby the other party or parties shall undertake to furnish the Trust with administrative services. The contract or contracts shall be on such terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine.
(d) Transfer Agent. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into one or more transfer agency and Shareholder service contracts whereby the other party or parties shall undertake to furnish the Trust with transfer agency and Shareholder services. The contract or contracts shall be on such terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine.
(e) Servicing Agent. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into one or more contracts whereby the other party or parties shall undertake to furnish the Trust with Trust and/or Shareholder services. The contract or contracts shall be on such terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine.
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(f) Fund Accounting. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into one or more contracts whereby the other party or parties undertakes to handle all or any part of the Trust’s accounting responsibilities, whether with respect to the Trust’s properties, Shareholders or otherwise. The contract or contracts shall be on such terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine.
(g) Custodian and Depository. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into one or more contracts whereby the other party or parties undertakes to act as depository for and to maintain custody of the property of the Trust or any Class and accounting records in connection therewith. The contract or contracts shall be on such terms and conditions as the Trustees may in their discretion determine.
(h) Parties to Contract. Any contract described in this Article V hereof may be entered into with any corporation, firm, partnership, trust or association, although one or more of the Trustees or officers of the Trust may be an officer, director, trustee, shareholder, or member of such other party to the contract, and no such contract shall be invalidated or rendered void or voidable by reason of the existence of any relationship, nor shall any person holding such relationship be disqualified from voting on or executing the same in his capacity as Shareholder and/or Trustee, nor shall any person holding such relationship be liable merely by reason of such relationship for any loss or expense to the Trust under or by reason of said contract or accountable for any profit realized directly or indirectly therefrom, provided that the contract when entered into was not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article V. The same person (including a firm, corporation, partnership, trust, or association) may be the other party to contracts entered into pursuant to this Article V, and any individual may be financially interested or otherwise affiliated with persons who are parties to any or all of the contracts mentioned in this Section 5.1.
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VI
SHAREHOLDER VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS
Section 6.1 Voting. The Shareholders shall have power to vote only: (a) for the election of one or more Trustees in order to comply with the provisions of the 1940 Act (including Section 16(a) thereof); (b) with respect to any contract entered into pursuant to Article V to the extent required by the 1940 Act; (c) with respect to termination of the Trust or a Class thereof to the extent required by applicable law; and (d) with respect to such additional matters relating to the Trust as may be required by this Trust Instrument, the By-laws or any registration of the Trust as an investment company under the 1940 Act with the Commission (or any successor agency) or as the Trustees may consider necessary or desirable.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this declaration, on any matter submitted to a vote of Shareholders, unless the Trustees determine otherwise, all Shares of all Classes then entitled to vote shall be voted in aggregate, provided, however, that: (a) as to any matter with respect to which a separate vote of any Class is required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law or is required by attributes applicable to any Class, such requirements as to a separate vote by that Class shall apply; (b) unless the Trustees determine that this clause (b) shall not apply in a particular case, to the extent that a matter referred to in clause (a) above affects more than one Class and the interests of each such Class in the matter are identical, then the Shares of all such affected Classes shall vote as a single class; and (c) as to any matter which does not affect the interests of a particular Class, only the holders of Shares of the one or more affected Classes shall be entitled to vote. A Shareholder of each Class shall be entitled to one vote for each Share of such Class on any matter on which such Shareholder is entitled to vote. A Shareholder of each Class shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote for each fractional Share of such Class on any matter on which such Shareholder is entitled to vote. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees. Shares may be voted in person or by proxy or in any manner provided for in the By-laws. A proxy may be given in writing, by telefax, other electronic means or in any other manner provided for in the By-laws. Anything in this Trust Instrument to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event a proposal by anyone other than the officers or Trustees of the Trust is submitted to a vote of the Shareholders of the Trust or one or more Classes thereof, or in the event of any proxy contest or proxy solicitation or proposal in opposition to any proposal by the officers or Trustees of the Trust, Shares may be voted only in person or by written proxy. Until Shares are issued, the Trustees may exercise all rights of Shareholders and may take any action required or permitted by law, this Trust Instrument or any of the By-laws of the Trust to be taken by Shareholders.
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Section 6.2 Meetings. Meetings of Shareholders (including meetings involving only the holders of Shares of one or more but less than all the Classes) may be called by the Trustees from time to time to be held at such place within or without the State of Delaware, and on such date as may be designated in the call thereof for the purpose of taking action upon any matter as to which the vote or authority of the Shareholders of any Class or of the Trust is required or permitted as provided in Section 6.1. Special meetings of the Shareholders may be called by the Trustees. To the extent required by the 1940 Act, special meetings of the Shareholders for the purpose of removing one or more Trustees shall be called by the Trustees upon the written request of Shareholders owning at least 10 percent (10%) of the Outstanding Shares of all Classes entitled to vote. Notice shall be sent, postage prepaid, by mail or such other means determined by the Trustees, at least 7 days prior to any such meeting.
Section 6.3 Quorum and Required Vote. Unless a larger percentage is required by law, by any provision of this Trust Instrument or by the Trustees, one-third of the Shares entitled to vote in person or by proxy on a particular matter shall be a quorum for the transaction of business at a Shareholders’ meeting with respect to that matter. Any lesser number shall be sufficient for adjournments. Any adjourned session or sessions may be held without the necessity of further notice. Except when a larger vote is required by law, by any provision of this Trust Instrument or by the Trustees, a majority of the Shares voted in person or by proxy on a particular matter at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall decide any questions with respect to that matter and a plurality shall elect a Trustee.
Section 6.4 Action by Written Consent. Subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act and other applicable law, any action taken by Shareholders may be taken without a meeting if a majority of the Shares entitled to vote on the matter (or such larger proportion thereof as shall be required by law, by any provision of this Trust Instrument or by the Trustees) consent to the action in writing. Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of Shareholders. The Trustees may adopt additional rules and procedures regarding the taking of Shareholder action by written consents.
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VII
DISTRIBUTIONS AND REPURCHASES
Section 7.1 Distributions.
(a) The Trustees may from time to time declare and pay dividends or other distributions with respect to any Class. The amount of such dividends or distributions and the payment of them and whether they are in cash or any other Trust Property shall be wholly in the discretion of the Trustees.
(b) Dividends and other distributions may be paid or made to the Shareholders of record at the time of declaring a dividend or other distribution or among the Shareholders of record at such other date or time or dates or times as the Trustees shall determine, which dividends or distributions, at the election of the Trustees, may be paid pursuant to a standing resolution or resolutions adopted only once or with such frequency as the Trustees may determine. All dividends and other distributions on Shares of a particular Class shall be distributed pro rata to the Shareholders of that Class in proportion to the number of Shares of that Class they held on the record date established for such payment, except that in connection with any dividend or distribution program or procedures the Trustees may determine that no dividend or distribution shall be payable on Shares as to which the Shareholder’s purchase order and/or payment in the prescribed form has not been received by the time or times established by the Trustees under such program or procedure. The Trustees may adopt and offer to Shareholders such dividend reinvestment plans, cash dividend payout plans or related plans as the Trustees shall deem appropriate.
(c) Anything in this Trust Instrument to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustees may at any time declare and distribute a stock dividend pro rata among the Shareholders of a particular Class, as of the record date of that Class fixed as provided in Section (b) hereof. The Trustees shall have full discretion, to the extent not inconsistent with the 1940 Act, to determine which items shall be treated as income and which items as capital; and each such determination and allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders.
Section 7.2 Transfer of Shares.
(a) Any Shares held by a Shareholder may be transferred only (1) by operation of law pursuant to the death, bankruptcy, insolvency, adjudicated incompetence, or dissolution of the Shareholder or (2) with the consent of the Trustees (which may be withheld in the Trustees’ sole and absolute discretion). If a Shareholder transfers Shares with the approval of the Trustees, the Trustees will as promptly as practicable take all necessary actions so that each transferee or successor to whom or to which the Shares are transferred is admitted to the Trust as a Shareholder. The admission of any transferee as a substituted Shareholder will be effective upon the execution and delivery by, or on behalf of, the substituted Shareholder of an investor application form. Each Shareholder and transferee agrees to pay all expenses, including attorneys’ and accountants’ fees, incurred by the Trust in connection with any transfer. In connection with any request to transfer Shares, the Trust may require the Shareholder requesting the transfer to obtain, at the Shareholder’s expense, an opinion of counsel selected by the Trustees as to such matters as the Trustees may reasonably request. If a Shareholder transfers all of its Shares, it will not cease to be a Shareholder unless and until the transferee is admitted to the Trust as a substituted Shareholder in accordance with this Section 7.2(a). Any transfer of Shares permitted under this Section 7.2(a) will be effected in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.4 hereof. Pursuant to Section 4.1(k) hereof, the Trustees hereby delegate to the officers of the Trust all power and authority to approve and effect transfers of Shares pursuant to this Section 7.2(a).
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(b) Each Shareholder will indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, the Trustees, each other Shareholder and any Affiliated Person of the Trust, the Trustees, the investment adviser, any sub-adviser and each of the other Shareholders against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including legal or other expenses incurred in investigating or defending against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses or any judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement), joint or several, to which these Persons may become subject by reason of or arising from (1) any transfer made by the Shareholder in violation of this Section 7.2 and (2) any misrepresentation by the transferring Shareholder or substituted Shareholder in connection with the transfer. A Shareholder transferring Shares may be charged reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ and accountants’ fees, incurred by the Trust in connection with the transfer, by setting off such charges due from such Shareholder from declared but unpaid dividends or distributions owed such Shareholder and/or by reducing the number of shares in the account of such Shareholder by that number of full and/or fractional Shares which represents the outstanding amount of such charges due from such Shareholder.
Section 7.3 Repurchases. Unless the Trustees otherwise determine with respect to a particular Class at the time of establishing and designating the same, each Shareholder of a particular Class shall have the right at such times as may be permitted by the Trustees to require the Trust to repurchase (out of the assets belonging to the applicable Class) all or any part of his Shares at the net asset value thereof as of the repurchase pricing date established by the Trustees, less any repurchase fee established by the Trustees in their discretion, and subject to such conditions as the Trustees may determine, which may include establishing a maximum amount of Shares that may be repurchased and prorating Shares tendered for repurchase if the repurchase is oversubscribed. Payment for said Shares may be made in cash, by promissory note or wholly or partly in kind if the Trustees determine that such payment is advisable in the interest of the remaining Shareholders. Subject to the foregoing, the fair value, selection and quantity of securities or other property so paid or delivered as all or part of the repurchase price shall be determined by or under authority of the Trustees. In no case shall the Trust be liable for any delay of any corporation or other Person in transferring securities selected for delivery as all or part of any payment in kind.
Section 7.4 Redemptions at the Option of the Trust. The Trust shall have the right at its option and at any time to redeem Shares of any Shareholder at the net asset value thereof, unless otherwise permitted by the 1940 Act, for any reason under the terms established by the Trustees from time to time including but not limited to: (i) if at such time such Shareholder owns Shares having an aggregate net asset value of less than an amount determined from time to time by the Trustees; (ii) to the extent that such Shareholder owns Shares equal to or in excess of a percentage of the outstanding Shares determined from time to time by the Trustees; (iii) the failure of a Shareholder to supply a tax identification number or other identification or if the Trust is unable to verify a Shareholder's identity; (iv) the failure of a Shareholder to pay when due the purchase price of Shares; (v) when the Trust is requested or compelled to do so by governmental authority; or (vi) the determination by the Trustees or pursuant to policies and procedures adopted by the Trustees that ownership of Shares is not in the best interest of the remaining Shareholders of the Trust or applicable Class.
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Section 7.5 Suspension of the Right of Repurchase. The Trustees may declare a suspension of the right of repurchase or postpone the date of payment as permitted under the 1940 Act. Such suspension shall take effect at such time as the Trustees shall specify and thereafter there shall be no right of repurchase or payment until the Trustees shall declare the suspension at an end. In the event that the Trust is divided into Classes, the provisions of this Section 7.5, to the extent applicable as determined in the discretion of the Trustees and consistent with the 1940 Act, may be equally applied to each such Class.
Section 7.6 Redemption of Shares to Qualify as a Regulated Investment Company. If the Trustees shall, at any time and in good faith, be of the opinion that direct or indirect ownership of Shares has or may become concentrated in any Person to an extent that would disqualify the Trust as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), then the Trustees shall have the power (but not the obligation) by lot or other means deemed equitable by them (i) to call for redemption by any such Person of a number, or principal amount, of Shares sufficient to maintain or bring the direct or indirect ownership of Shares into conformity with the requirements for such qualification and (ii) to refuse to transfer or issue Shares to any Person whose acquisition of Shares in question would result in such disqualification. The redemption shall be effected at the redemption price and in the manner provided herein. The holders of Shares shall upon demand disclose to the Trustees in writing such information with respect to direct and indirect ownership of Shares as the Trustees deem necessary to comply with the requirements of any taxing authority.
Section 7.7 Net Asset Value. The Net Asset Value of each outstanding Share of any Class shall be the quotient obtained by dividing (a) the value of the net assets belonging to that Class less the liabilities belonging to such Class by (b) the total number of Shares of that Class outstanding, all determined in accordance with the methods and procedures, including without limitation those with respect to rounding, established by the Trustees from time to time.
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VIII
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
Section 8.1 Limitation of Liability. Neither a Trustee nor an officer of the Trust, when acting in such capacity, shall be personally liable to any person other than the Trust or a beneficial owner for any act, omission or obligation of the Trust, any Trustee or any officer of the Trust. Neither a Trustee nor an officer of the Trust shall be liable for any act or omission in his capacity as Trustee or as an officer of the Trust, or for any act or omission of any other officer or any employee of the Trust or of any other person or party, provided that nothing contained herein or in the Act shall protect any Trustee or officer against any liability to the Trust or to Shareholders to which he would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee or the duties of such officer hereunder.
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Section 8.2 Indemnification. The Trust shall indemnify each of its Trustees, officers and persons who serve at the Trust’s request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor, or otherwise, and may indemnify any trustee, director or officer of a predecessor organization (each a “Covered Person”), against all liabilities and expenses (including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise, as fines and penalties, and expenses including reasonable accountants’ and counsel fees) reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative, regulatory, or legislative body, in which he may be involved or with which he may be threatened, while as a Covered Person or thereafter, by reason of being or having been such a Covered Person, except that no Covered Person shall be indemnified against any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders to which such Covered Person would otherwise be subject by reason of bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office (such willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard being referred to herein as “Disabling Conduct”). Expenses, including accountants’ and counsel fees so incurred by any such Covered Person (but excluding amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines or penalties), may be paid from time to time by the Trust in advance of the final disposition of any such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of (a) an undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person to repay amounts so paid to the Trust if it is ultimately determined that indemnification of such expenses is not authorized under this Article VIII and (b) any of (i) such Covered Person provides security for such undertaking, (ii) the Trust is insured against losses arising by reason of such payment, or (iii) a majority of a quorum of disinterested, non-party Trustees, or independent legal counsel in a written opinion, determines, based on a review of readily available facts, that there is reason to believe that such Covered Person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.
Section 8.3 Indemnification Determinations. Indemnification of a Covered Person pursuant to Section 8.2 shall be made if (a) the court or body before whom the proceeding is brought determines, in a final decision on the merits, that such Covered Person was not liable by reason of Disabling Conduct or (b) in the absence of such a determination, a majority of a quorum of disinterested, non-party Trustees or independent legal counsel in a written opinion make a reasonable determination, based upon a review of the facts, that such Covered Person was not liable by reason of Disabling Conduct.
Section 8.4 Indemnification Not Exclusive. The right of indemnification provided by this Article VIII shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any such Covered Person may be entitled. As used in this Article VIII, “Covered Person” shall include such person’s heirs, executors and administrators, and a “disinterested, non-party Trustee” is a Trustee who is neither an Interested Person of the Trust nor a party to the proceeding in question.
Section 8.5 Shareholders. Each Shareholder of the Trust and each Class shall not be personally liable for the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred by, contracted for, or otherwise existing with respect to, the Trust or by or on behalf of any Class. The Trustees shall have no power to bind any Shareholder personally or to call upon any Shareholder for the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other than such as the Shareholder may at any time personally agree to pay pursuant to terms hereof or by way of subscription for any Shares or otherwise.
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In case any Shareholder or former Shareholder of any Class shall be held to be personally liable solely by reason of his being or having been a Shareholder of such Class and not because of his acts or omissions or for some other reason, the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or his heirs, executors, administrators or other legal representatives, or, in the case of a corporation or other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled out of the assets belonging to the applicable Class to be held harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense arising from such liability. The Trust, on behalf of the affected Class, shall, upon request by the Shareholder, assume the defense of any claim made against the Shareholder for any act or obligation of the Class and satisfy any judgment thereon from the assets of the Class. The indemnification and reimbursement required by the preceding sentence shall be made only out of assets of the one or more Classes whose Shares were held by said Shareholder at the time the act or event occurred that gave rise to the claim against or liability of said Shareholder. The rights accruing to a Shareholder under this Section shall not impair any other right to which such Shareholder may be lawfully entitled, nor shall anything herein contained restrict the right of the Trust or any Class thereof to indemnify or reimburse a Shareholder in any appropriate situation even though not specifically provided herein.
article
IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.1 Trust Not a Partnership. It is hereby expressly declared that a trust and not a partnership is created hereby. All persons extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against the Trust or any Class shall look only to the assets of the Trust or such Class for payment under such credit, contract or claim; and neither the Shareholders nor the Trustees, nor any of the Trust’s officers, employees or agents, whether past, present or future, shall be personally liable therefor.
Section 9.2 Trustees’ and Officers’ Good Faith Action, Expert Advice, No Bond or Surety. The exercise by the Trustees of their powers and discretions hereunder shall be binding upon everyone interested. Subject to the provisions of Article VIII: (i) the Trustees and officers shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any neglect or wrongdoing of any agent, employee, consultant, adviser, administrator, distributor or principal underwriter, custodian or transfer, dividend disbursing, shareholder servicing or accounting agent of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee or officer be responsible for the act or omission of any other Trustee; (ii) the Trustees and officers may take advice of counsel or other experts with respect to the meaning and operation of this Trust Instrument and their duties as Trustees or officers, as applicable, and shall be under no liability for any act or omission in accordance with such advice or for failing to follow such advice; and (iii) in discharging their duties, the officers, when acting in good faith shall be entitled to rely upon the books of account of the Trust and upon written reports made to the Trustees and/or officers by any independent public accountant or (with respect to the subject matter of the contract involved) any officer, director, partner or responsible employee of a contracting party appointed by the Trustees; and (iv) in discharging their duties, the Trustees, when acting in good faith, shall be entitled to rely upon the books of account of the Trust and upon written reports made to the Trustees by any officer appointed by the Trustees, any independent public accountant, and (with respect to the subject matter of the contract involved) any officer, partner or responsible employee of a contracting party appointed by the Trustees. The Trustees and officers as such shall not be required to give any bond or surety or any other security for the performance of their duties.
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Section 9.3 Establishment of Record Dates. The Trustees may close the Share transfer books of the Trust for a period not exceeding one hundred twenty (120) days preceding the date of any meeting of Shareholders, or the date for the payment of any dividends or other distributions, or the date for the allotment of rights, or the date when any change or conversion or exchange of Shares shall go into effect; or in lieu of closing the stock transfer books as aforesaid, the Trustees may fix in advance a date, not exceeding one hundred twenty (120) days preceding the date of any meeting of Shareholders, or the date for payment of any dividend or other distribution, or the date for the allotment of rights, or the date when any change or conversion or exchange of Shares shall go into effect, as a record date for the determination of the Shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, any such meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any such dividend or other distribution, or to any such allotment of rights, or to exercise the rights in respect of any such change, conversion or exchange of Shares, and in such case such Shareholders and only such Shareholders as shall be Shareholders of record on the date so fixed shall be entitled to such notice of, and to vote at, such meeting, or to receive payment of such dividend or other distribution, or to receive such allotment or rights, or to exercise such rights, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any Shares on the books of the Trust after any such record date fixed as aforesaid.
Section 9.4 Dissolution and Termination of Trust.
(a) This Trust shall continue without limitation of time but subject to the provisions of sub-sections (b) and (c) of this Section 9.4.
(b) Notwithstanding anything in Section 9.5 to the contrary, the Trustees may without Shareholder approval (unless such approval is required by the 1940 Act) in dissolution of the Trust or any Class, liquidate, reorganize or dissolve the Trust or any Class in any manner or fashion not inconsistent with applicable law, including, without limitation,
| (i) | sell and convey all or substantially all of the assets of the Trust or any Class to another trust, partnership, limited liability company, association or corporation, or to a separate series or class of shares thereof, organized under the laws of any state or jurisdiction, for adequate consideration which may include the assumption of all outstanding obligations, taxes and other liabilities, accrued or contingent, of the Trust or any Class, and which may include shares of beneficial interest, stock or other ownership interests of such trust, partnership, limited liability company, association or corporation or of a series thereof; or |
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| (ii) | at any time sell and convert into money all of the assets of the Trust or any Class. |
Following a sale or conversion in accordance with the foregoing sub-Section 9.4(b)(i) or (ii), and upon making reasonable provision, in the determination of the Trustees, for the payment of all liabilities of the Trust or the affected Class as required by applicable law, by such assumption or otherwise, the Shareholders of each Class involved in such sale or conversion shall be entitled to receive, as a Class, when and as declared by the Trustees, the excess of the assets allocated to that Class over the liabilities allocated to such Class. The assets so distributable to the Shareholders of any particular Class shall be distributed among such Shareholders in proportion to the number of Shares of that Class held by them and recorded on the books of the Trust.
(c) Upon completion of the distribution of the remaining proceeds or the remaining assets as provided in sub-section (b), the Trust (in the case of a sale or conversion with respect to the Trust) or any affected Class shall terminate and the Trustees and the Trust or any affected Class shall be discharged of any and all further liabilities and duties hereunder and the right, title and interest of all parties with respect to the Trust or such affected Class shall be cancelled and discharged.
Upon termination of the Trust, following completion of winding up of its business, the Trustees shall cause a certificate of cancellation of the Trust’s certificate of trust to be filed in accordance with the Act, which certificate of cancellation may be signed by any one Trustee.
Section 9.5 Merger, Consolidation, Incorporation. Anything in this Trust Instrument to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustees, in order to change the form of organization and/or domicile of the Trust, may, without prior Shareholder approval, (i) cause the Trust to merge or consolidate with or into one or more trusts, partnerships, limited liability companies, associations or corporations which is or are formed, organized or existing under the laws of a state, commonwealth possession or colony of the United States, or (ii) cause the Trust to incorporate under the laws of Delaware. Any agreement of merger or consolidation or certificate of merger may be signed by a majority of the Trustees. Pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 3815(f) of the Act, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Trust Instrument, an agreement of any merger or consolidation approved in accordance with this Section 9.5 may effect any amendment to the Trust Instrument or effect the adoption of a new trust instrument of the Trust if it is the surviving or resulting trust in the merger or consolidation. Any merger or consolidation of the Trust other than as described in the foregoing provisions of this Section 9.5 shall, in addition to the approval of the Trustees, require a Majority Shareholder Vote. Nothing in this Section 9.5 shall require, however, Shareholder approval of any transaction whereby the Trust or any Class thereof acquires or assumes all or any part of the assets and liabilities of any other entity.
Section 9.6 Filing of Copies, References, Headings. The original or a copy of this Trust Instrument and of each amendment hereof or Trust Instrument supplemental hereto shall be kept at the office of the Trust where it may be inspected by any Shareholder. Anyone dealing with the Trust may rely on a certificate by an officer or Trustee of the Trust as to whether or not any such amendments or supplements have been made and as to any matters in connection with the Trust hereunder, and with the same effect as if it were the original, may rely on a copy certified by an officer or Trustee of the Trust to be a copy of this Trust Instrument or of any such amendment or supplemental Trust Instrument. In this Trust Instrument or in any such amendment or supplemental Trust Instrument, references to this Trust Instrument, and all expressions like “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” shall be deemed to refer to this Trust Instrument as amended or affected by any such supplemental Trust Instrument. All expressions like “his,” “he” and “him,” shall be deemed to include the feminine and neuter, as well as masculine, genders. Headings are placed herein for convenience of reference only and in case of any conflict, the text of this Trust Instrument rather than the headings, shall control. This Trust Instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original.
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Section 9.7 Applicable Law. The trust set forth in this instrument is made in the State of Delaware, and the Trust and this Trust Instrument, and the rights and obligations of the Trustees and Shareholders hereunder, are to be governed by and construed and administered according to the Act and the laws of said State; provided, however, that there shall not be applicable to the Trust, the Trustees or this Trust Instrument (a) the provisions of Section 3540 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code or (b) any provisions of the laws (statutory or common) of the State of Delaware (other than the Act) pertaining to trusts which relate to or regulate: (i) the filing with any court or governmental body or agency of trustee accounts or schedules of trustee fees and charges, (ii) affirmative requirements to post bonds for trustees, officers, agents or employees of a trust, (iii) the necessity for obtaining court or other governmental approval concerning the acquisition, holding or disposition of real or personal property, (iv) fees or other sums payable to trustees, officers, agents or employees of a trust, (v) the allocation of receipts and expenditures to income or principal, (vi) restrictions or limitations on the permissible nature, amount or concentration of trust investments or requirements relating to the titling, storage or other manner of holding of trust assets, or (vii) the establishment of fiduciary or other standards or responsibilities or limitations on the acts or powers of trustees, which are inconsistent with the limitations or liabilities or authorities and powers of the Trustees set forth or referenced in this Trust Instrument. The Trust shall be of the type commonly called a “statutory trust,” and without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers which are ordinarily exercised by such a trust under Delaware law. The Trust specifically reserves the right to exercise any of the powers or privileges afforded to trusts or actions that may be engaged in by trusts under the Act, and the absence of a specific reference herein to any such power, privilege or action shall not imply that the Trust may not exercise such power or privilege or take such actions.
Section 9.8 Amendments. Except as specifically provided herein, the Trustees may, without Shareholder vote, amend or otherwise supplement this Trust Instrument by making an amendment, a Trust Instrument supplemental hereto or an amended and restated trust instrument. Shareholders shall have the right to vote: (i) on any amendment which would affect their right to vote granted in Section 6.1, (ii) on any amendment to this Section 9.8, (iii) on any amendment for which such vote is required by law and (iv) on any amendment submitted to them by the Trustees. Any amendment required or permitted to be submitted to Shareholders which, as the Trustees determine, shall affect the Shareholders of one or more Classes shall be authorized by vote of the Shareholders of each Class affected and no vote of shareholders of a Class not affected shall be required. Anything in this Trust Instrument to the contrary notwithstanding, any amendment to Article VIII hereof shall not limit the rights to indemnification or insurance provided therein with respect to action or omission of any persons protected thereby prior to such amendment.
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Section 9.9 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Trust shall end on a specified date as determined from time to time by the Trustees.
Section 9.10 Provisions in Conflict with Law. The provisions of this Trust Instrument are severable, and if the Trustees shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions is in conflict with the 1940 Act, the regulated investment company provisions of the Code or with other applicable laws and regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed never to have constituted a part of this Trust Instrument; provided, however, that such determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of this Trust Instrument or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination. If any provision of this Trust Instrument shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect such provisions in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of this Trust Instrument in any jurisdiction.
Section 9.11 Allocation of Certain Expenses. Each Shareholder will, at the discretion of the Trustees, indemnify the Trust against all expenses and losses resulting from indebtedness incurred in connection with facilitating (i) requests pending receipt of the collected funds from investments sold on the date of such Shareholder’s redemption request; (ii) redemption requests from such Shareholder who has also notified the Trust of its intention to deposit funds in its accounts on the date of said redemption request; or (iii) the purchase of investments pending receipt of collected funds from such Shareholder who has notified the Trust of its intention to deposit funds in its accounts on the date of the purchase of the investments.
Section 9.12 Delivery by Electronic Transmission or Otherwise. Notwithstanding any provision in this Declaration of Trust to the contrary, any notice, proxy, vote, consent, instrument or writing of any kind referenced in, or contemplated by, this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws may, in the sole discretion of the Trustees, be given, granted or otherwise delivered by electronic transmission (within the meaning of the Act), including via the internet, or in any other manner permitted by applicable law. All requirements in this Declaration of Trust that any writing be signed shall be deemed to be satisfied by any electronic transmission in such form that is acceptable to the Trustees.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the Initial Trustee of the Trust, has executed this Declaration of Trust as of the 21st day of April, 2021.
| By: | /s/Daniel Dwyer | ||
| Daniel Dwyer, as Trustee and not individually |
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The information in this Statement of Additional Information is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This Statement of Additional Information is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to completion dated November 12, 2021
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
MVP Private Markets Fund
Dated [ ], 2021
c/o Portfolio Advisors, LLC
9 Old Kings Highway South
Darien, Connecticut
(203) 662-3456
This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus. This SAI relates to and should be read in conjunction with the prospectus (the “Prospectus”) of MVP Private Markets Fund (the “Fund”) dated [ ], 2021, as it may be further amended or supplemented from time to time. A copy of the Prospectus may be obtained without charge by contacting the Fund at the telephone number or address set forth above.
This SAI is not an offer to sell shares of the Fund (“Shares”) and is not soliciting an offer to buy the Shares in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the same meaning set forth in the Prospectus.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES |
1 |
FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES |
1 |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES OF THE FUND AND THE RELATED RISKS |
2 |
BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS |
12 |
CODES OF ETHICS |
17 |
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SERVICES |
17 |
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE ALLOCATION |
22 |
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM; LEGAL COUNSEL |
23 |
CUSTODIAN |
23 |
PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES |
23 |
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS |
24 |
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
24 |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
25 |
Appendix A |
A-1 |
Appendix B |
B-1 |
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES
The investment objective and the principal investment strategies of the Fund, as well as the principal risks associated with such investment strategies, are set forth in the Prospectus. Certain additional information regarding the investment program of the Fund is set forth below.
FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES
The Fund’s fundamental policies, which are listed below, may only be changed by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. At the present time the Shares are the only outstanding voting securities of the Fund. As defined by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), the vote of a “majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund” means the vote, at an annual or special meeting of the shareholders of the Fund (the “Shareholders”), duly called, (i) of 67% or more of the Shares represented at such meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding Shares are present in person or represented by proxy or (ii) of more than 50% of the outstanding Shares, whichever is less. No other policy is a fundamental policy of the Fund, except as expressly stated. Within the limits of the fundamental policies of the Fund, the management of the Fund has reserved freedom of action. The Fund may not:
| 1) | Issue any senior security, except to the extent permitted by Section 18 of the Investment Company Act, as interpreted, modified, or otherwise permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or any other applicable authority. |
| 2) | Borrow money, except to the extent permitted by Section 18 of the Investment Company Act, as interpreted, modified, or otherwise permitted by the SEC or any other applicable authority. |
| 3) | Underwrite securities of other issuers, except insofar as the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), in connection with the disposition of its portfolio securities. |
| 4) | Make loans, except through purchasing fixed-income securities (including whole loans, whether senior or subordinated, “Payment-In-Kind” or “PIK” securities, other mezzanine securities or participations in any of the foregoing), lending portfolio securities, or entering into repurchase agreements in a manner consistent with the investment policies of the Fund, or as otherwise permitted under the Investment Company Act. This investment restriction does not apply to loans to affiliated investment companies or other affiliated persons of the Fund to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act, the SEC or any other applicable authority. |
| 5) | Purchase, hold or deal in real estate, except that the Fund may invest in securities that are secured by real estate, including, without limitation, mortgage-related securities, or that are issued by companies or partnerships that invest or deal in real estate or real estate investment trusts, and may hold and dispose of real estate acquired by the Fund as a result of the ownership of securities or other permitted investments. |
| 6) | Invest in commodities and commodity contracts, except that the Fund (i) may purchase and sell non-U.S. currencies, options, swaps, futures and forward contracts, including those related to indexes, options and options on indexes, as well as other financial instruments and contracts that are commodities or commodity contracts, (ii) may also purchase or sell commodities if acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, (iii) may invest in commodity pools and other entities that purchase and sell commodities and commodity contracts, and (iv) may make such investments as otherwise permitted by the Investment Company Act. |
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| 7) | Invest 25% or more of the value of its total assets in the securities of issuers that the Adviser determines are engaged in any single industry, except that U.S. government securities and repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government securities may be purchased without limitation. This investment restriction does not apply to investments by the Fund in Portfolio Funds (or in another comparable investment pool). The Fund may invest in Portfolio Funds that may concentrate their assets in one or more industries. The Fund will not invest 25% or more of its assets in a Portfolio Fund or Funds, in aggregate, that it knows concentrates its assets in a single industry. |
With respect to these investment restrictions and other policies described in this SAI or the Prospectus, if a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of an investment or transaction, a later change in percentage resulting from a change in the values of investments or the value of the Fund’s total assets, unless otherwise stated, will not constitute a violation of such restriction or policy. The Fund’s investment policies and restrictions do not apply to the activities and the transactions of the Portfolio Funds, but will apply to investments made by the Fund directly (or any account consisting solely of the Fund’s assets).
The investment objective of the Fund is not a fundamental policy of the Fund and may be changed by the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the “Board”) without the vote of a majority (as defined by the Investment Company Act) of the Fund’s outstanding Shares.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES OF THE FUND AND THE RELATED RISKS
As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund’s investments consist primarily of: (i) direct investments in the equity or debt of target companies and other private assets (i.e. assets that are not traded on a public securities exchange) (“Direct Investments”), typically in conjunction with third-party managers (“Sponsors”); (ii) purchases of existing interests in private equity or private credit funds (“Portfolio Funds”) and other private assets managed by Sponsors (“Secondary Investments”); (iii) subscriptions for new interests in Portfolio Funds (“Primary Investments”); and (iv) short-term and liquid investments, including money market funds, short term treasuries, and/or other liquid investment vehicles. This section provides additional information about various types of investments and investment techniques that may be employed by the Fund, by Portfolio Funds or by other investments in which the Fund invests. Many of the investments and techniques described in this section may be based in part on the existence of a public market for the relevant securities. To that extent, such investments and techniques are not expected to represent the principal investments or techniques of the majority of the Fund, of the Portfolio Funds or of other investments; however, there is no limit on the types of investments the Portfolio Funds and other investments may make and certain Portfolio Funds and other investments may use such investments or techniques extensively. Similarly, there are few limits on the types of investments the Fund may make. Accordingly, the descriptions in this section cannot be comprehensive. Any decision to invest in the Fund should take into account (i) the possibility that the Portfolio Funds and other investments may make virtually any kind of investment, (ii) that the Fund has similarly broad latitude in the kinds of investments it may make (subject to the fundamental policies described above) and (iii) that all such investments will be subject to related risks, which can be substantial.
Equity Securities
The portfolio of the Fund, a Portfolio Fund and/or certain other investments may include investments in common stocks, preferred stocks, and convertible securities of U.S. and foreign issuers. Such portfolios also may include depositary receipts relating to foreign securities. Equity securities fluctuate in value, often based on factors unrelated to the value of the issuer of the securities. Given the private markets focus of the Fund, there is expected to be no liquid market for a majority of such investments.
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Common Stock
Common stock or other common equity issued by a corporation or other entity generally entitles the holder to a pro rata share of the profits, if any, of the entity without preference over any other shareholder or claims of shareholders, after making required payments to holders of the entity’s preferred stock and other senior equity. Common stock usually carries with it the right to vote and frequently an exclusive right to do so.
Preferred Stock
Preferred stock or other preferred equity generally has a preference as to dividends and, in the event of liquidation, to an issuer’s assets, over the issuer’s common stock or other common equity, but it ranks junior to debt securities in an issuer’s capital structure. Preferred stock generally pays dividends in cash or additional shares of preferred stock at a defined rate but, unlike interest payments on debt securities, preferred stock dividends are generally payable only if declared by the issuer’s board of directors. Dividends on preferred stock may be cumulative, meaning that, in the event the issuer fails to make one or more dividend payments on the preferred stock, no dividends may be paid on the issuer’s common stock until all unpaid preferred stock dividends have been paid. Preferred stock may also be subject to optional or mandatory redemption provisions.
Convertible Securities
Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stock, or other securities that may be converted into or exchanged for a specified amount of common equity of the same or different issuer within a specified period of time at a specified price or based on a specified formula. In many cases, a convertible security entitles the holder to receive interest or a dividend that is generally paid or accrued until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. Convertible securities have unique investment characteristics in that they generally (i) have higher yields (i.e., rates of interest or dividends) than common stocks, but lower yields than comparable non-convertible securities, (ii) are less subject to fluctuation in value than the underlying common stock into which they are convertible due to their fixed-income characteristics and (iii) provide the potential for capital appreciation if the market price of the underlying common stock increases. Investments in convertible securities by the Fund, the Portfolio Funds or other investments are expected to primarily be in private convertible securities, but may be in public convertible securities.
The value of a convertible security is primarily a function of its “investment value” (determined by its yield in comparison with the yields of other securities of comparable maturity and quality that do not have a conversion privilege) and its “conversion value” (determined by reference to the security’s anticipated worth, at market value, if converted into the underlying common stock). The investment value of a convertible security is influenced by changes in interest rates, with investment value typically declining as interest rates increase and increasing as interest rates decline. The credit standing of the issuer and other factors may also increase or decrease the convertible security’s value. If the conversion value is low relative to the investment value, the convertible security is valued principally by reference to its investment value. To the extent the value of the underlying common stock approaches or exceeds the conversion value, the convertible security will be valued increasingly by reference to its conversion value. Generally, the conversion value decreases as the convertible security approaches maturity. Where no market exists for a convertible security and/or the underlying common stock, such investments may be difficult to value. A public convertible security generally will sell at a premium over its conversion value by the extent to which investors place value on the right to acquire the underlying common stock while holding a fixed-income security.
A convertible security may in some cases be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the convertible security’s governing instrument. If a convertible security is called for redemption, the holder will generally have a choice of tendering the security for redemption, converting it into common stock prior to redemption, or selling it to a third party. Any of these actions could have a material adverse effect and result in losses to the Fund.
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Derivative Instruments
Although not a principal investment strategy, the Fund, the Portfolio Funds or other investments may use financial instruments known as derivatives. A derivative is generally defined as an instrument whose value is derived from, or based upon, some underlying index, reference rate (such as interest rates or currency exchange rates), security, commodity or other asset. Following are descriptions of certain derivatives that the Portfolio Funds and other investments may use. The same descriptions apply to the Fund, mutatis mutandis, to the extent that it engages in derivatives transactions. Certain risks associated with derivatives are described under “INVESTMENT RELATED RISKS—Derivative Instruments” in the Prospectus.
Options and Futures
A Portfolio Fund and certain other investments may utilize options contracts, futures contracts, and options on futures contracts. Each also may use so-called “synthetic” options or other derivative instruments written by broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries. Options transactions may be effected on securities exchanges or in the over-the-counter market. When options are purchased over-the-counter, the portfolio of the a Portfolio Fund or other investment bears the risk that the counterparty that wrote the option will be unable or unwilling to perform its obligations under the option contract. Such options may also be illiquid, and, in such cases, a Portfolio Fund or other investment may have difficulty closing out its position. Over-the-counter options purchased and sold by the Portfolio Fund or other investment also may include options on baskets of specific securities.
A Portfolio Fund and certain other investments may purchase call and put options on specific securities or currencies and may write and sell covered or uncovered call and put options for hedging purposes and non-hedging purposes to pursue an investment objective. A put option gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and obligates the writer to buy, the underlying security at a stated exercise price at any time prior to the expiration of the option. A call option gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and obligates the writer to sell, the underlying security at a stated exercise price at any time prior to the expiration of the option.
A covered call option is a call option with respect to which a Portfolio Fund or other investment owns the underlying security. The sale of such an option exposes the Portfolio Fund or other investment, during the term of the option, to possible loss of opportunity to realize appreciation in the market price of the underlying security and to the possibility that it might hold the underlying security in order to protect against depreciation in the market price of the security during a period when it might have otherwise sold the security. The seller of a covered call option assumes the risk of a decline in the market price of the underlying security below the purchase price of the underlying security less the premium received and gives up the opportunity for gain on the underlying security above the exercise price of the option. The seller of an uncovered call option assumes the risk of a theoretically unlimited increase in the market price of the underlying security above the exercise price of the option.
A covered put option is a put option with respect to which the seller has a short position in the underlying security. The seller of a covered put option assumes the risk of an increase in the market price of the underlying security above the sales price (in establishing the short position) of the underlying security plus the premium received and gives up the opportunity for gain on the underlying security below the exercise price of the option. If the seller of the put option owns a put option covering an equivalent number of shares with an exercise price equal to or greater than the exercise price of the put written, the position is “fully hedged” if the option owned expires at the same time or later than the option written. The seller of an uncovered put option assumes the risk of a decline in the market price of the underlying security below the exercise price of the option. The seller of a put option may also be required to place cash or liquid securities in a segregated account to ensure compliance with its obligation to purchase the underlying security. The sale of such an option exposes the Portfolio Fund or other investment during the term of the option to a decline in price of the underlying security while depriving the Portfolio Fund or other investment of the opportunity to invest the segregated assets.
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A Portfolio Fund or other investment may close out a position when writing options by purchasing an option on the same security with the same exercise price and expiration date as the option that it has previously written on the security. The Portfolio Fund or other investment will realize a profit or loss if the amount paid to purchase an option is less or more, as the case may be, than the amount received from the sale thereof. To close out a position as a purchaser of an option, the Portfolio Fund or other investment would generally make a similar “closing sale transaction,” which involves liquidating its position by selling the option previously purchased. However, if deemed advantageous, the Portfolio Fund or other investment would be entitled to exercise the option.
A Portfolio Fund and certain other investments may enter into stock futures contracts, interest rate futures contracts, and currency futures contracts in U.S. domestic markets or on exchanges located outside the United States. Foreign markets may offer advantages such as trading opportunities or arbitrage possibilities not available in the United States. Foreign markets, however, may have greater risk potential than domestic markets. For example, some foreign exchanges are principal markets so that no common clearing facility exists, and an investor may look only to the broker for performance of the contract. Transactions on foreign exchanges may include both commodities that are traded on domestic exchanges and those that are not. Unlike trading on domestic commodity exchanges, trading on foreign commodity exchanges is not regulated by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”). Therefore, the CFTC does not have the power to compel enforcement of the rules of the foreign exchange or the laws of the foreign country. Moreover, such laws or regulations will vary depending on the foreign country in which the transaction occurs. For these reasons, the Portfolio Funds and other investments may not be afforded certain of the protections that apply to domestic transactions, including the right to use domestic alternative dispute resolution procedures. In particular, funds received from customers to margin foreign futures transactions may not be provided the same protections as funds received to margin futures transactions on domestic exchanges. In addition, the price of any foreign futures or option contract and, therefore, the potential profit and loss resulting from that contract, may be affected by any fluctuation in the foreign exchange rate between the time the order is placed and the foreign futures contract is liquidated or the foreign option contract is liquidated or exercised.
In addition to futures contracts traded on U.S. domestic markets or exchanges that are regulated by the CFTC or on foreign exchanges, Portfolio Funds and certain other investments may also trade certain futures either over-the-counter or on trading facilities such as derivatives transaction execution facilities, exempt boards of trade or electronic trading facilities that are licensed and/or regulated to varying degrees by the CFTC. In addition, certain single stock futures and narrow-based security index futures may be traded over-the-counter or on trading facilities such as contract markets, derivatives transaction execution facilities and electronic trading facilities that are licensed and/or regulated to varying degrees by both the CFTC and the SEC or on foreign exchanges.
Trading in futures involves risk of loss to a Portfolio Fund or other investment that could materially adversely affect the net asset value of the Fund. No assurance can be given that a liquid market will exist for any particular futures contract at any particular time. Many futures exchanges and boards of trade limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in futures contract prices during a single trading day by regulations referred to as “daily price fluctuation limits” or “daily limits.” Once the daily limit has been reached in a particular contract, no trades may be made that day at a price beyond that limit or trading may be suspended for specified periods during the trading day. Futures contract prices could move to the limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of futures positions and potentially subjecting the Portfolio Fund or other investment to substantial losses, which may result in losses to the Fund. In addition, the CFTC and various exchanges impose speculative position limits on the number of positions that each Portfolio Fund or other investment may indirectly hold or control in certain particular futures or options contracts. Many of the major U.S. exchanges have eliminated speculative position limits and have substituted position accountability rules that would permit the Portfolio Funds or other investments to trade without restriction as long as such Portfolio Funds and other investments can demonstrate the positions acquired were not acquired for the purpose of manipulating the market.
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Successful use of futures by a Portfolio Fund or other investment depends on the ability to correctly predict movements in the direction of the relevant market, and, to the extent the transaction is entered into for hedging purposes, to ascertain the appropriate correlation between the transaction being hedged and the price movements of the futures contract.
The prices of all derivative instruments, including futures and options prices, are highly volatile. Price movements of forward contracts, futures contracts, and other derivative contracts in which a Portfolio Fund or other investment may invest are influenced by, among other things: interest rates; changing supply and demand relationships; trade, fiscal, monetary, and exchange control programs and policies of governments; and national and international political and economic events and policies. In addition, governments from time to time intervene, directly and by regulation, in certain markets, particularly those currencies and interest rate-related futures and options. Such intervention often is intended directly to influence prices and may, together with other factors, cause all of such markets to move rapidly in the same direction because of, among other things, interest rate fluctuations. Portfolio Funds and other investments are also subject to the risk of the failure of any of the exchanges on which their positions trade or of their clearinghouses.
A stock index future obligates a Portfolio Fund or other investment to pay, or entitles it to receive, an amount of cash equal to a fixed dollar amount specified in the futures contract multiplied by the difference between the settlement price of the contract on the contract’s last trading day and the value of the index based on the stock prices of the securities that comprise it at the opening of trading in such securities on the next business day. An interest rate future obligates a Portfolio Fund or other investment to purchase or sell an amount of a specific debt security at a future date at a specific price. A currency future obligates a Portfolio Fund or other investment to purchase or sell an amount of a specific currency at a future date at a specific price.
Call and Put Options on Securities Indexes
A Portfolio Fund and certain other investments may purchase and sell call and put options on stock indexes listed on national securities exchanges or traded in the over-the-counter market for hedging and non-hedging purposes to pursue its investment objectives. A stock index fluctuates with changes in the market values of the stocks included in the index. Accordingly, successful use of options on stock indexes will be subject to the ability to correctly predict movements in the direction of the stock market generally or of a particular industry or market segment. This requires different skills and techniques than predicting changes in the price of individual stocks.
Yield Curve Options
A Portfolio Fund and certain other investments may enter into options on the yield “spread” or differential between two securities. Such transactions are referred to as “yield curve” options. In contrast to other types of options, a yield curve option is based on the difference between the yields of designated securities, rather than the prices of the individual securities, and is settled through cash payments. Accordingly, a yield curve option is profitable to the holder if this differential widens (in the case of a call) or narrows (in the case of a put), regardless of whether the yields of the underlying securities increase or decrease. The trading of yield curve options is subject to all of the risks associated with the trading of other types of options. In addition, such options present a risk of loss even if the yield of one of the underlying securities remains constant, or if the spread moves in a direction or to an extent which was not anticipated.
Rights and Warrants
A Portfolio Fund and certain other investments may invest in rights and warrants. Rights (sometimes referred to as “subscription rights”) and warrants may be purchased separately or may be received as part of a distribution in respect of, or may be attached to, other securities that a Portfolio Fund or other investment has purchased. Rights and warrants are securities that give the holder the right, but not the obligation, to purchase equity securities of the company issuing the rights or warrants, or a related company, at a fixed price either on a date certain or during a set period. Typically, rights have a relatively short term (e.g., two to four weeks), whereas warrants can have much longer terms. At the time of issue, the cost of a right or warrant is substantially less than the cost of the underlying security itself.
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Particularly in the case of warrants, price movements in the underlying security are generally magnified in the price movements of the warrant. This effect would enable a Portfolio Fund or other investment to gain exposure to the underlying security with a relatively low capital investment but increases the risk in the event of a decline in the value of the underlying security and can result in a complete loss of the amount invested in the warrant. In addition, the price of a warrant tends to be more volatile than, and may not correlate exactly to, the price of the underlying security. If the market price of the underlying security is below the exercise price of the warrant on its expiration date, the warrant will generally expire without value. The equity security underlying a warrant is authorized at the time the warrant is issued or is issued together with the warrant, which may result in losses to the Fund. Investing in warrants can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security, and, thus, can be a speculative investment. The value of a warrant may decline because of a decline in the value of the underlying security, the passage of time, changes in interest rates or in the dividend or other policies of the company whose equity underlies the warrant or a change in the perception as to the future price of the underlying security, or any combination thereof. Warrants and rights do not carry with them the right to dividends or voting rights with respect to the securities that they entitle the holder to purchase, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer.
Swaps
A Portfolio Fund and certain other investments may enter into equity, interest rate, index, currency rate, total return and/or other types of swap agreements. These transactions are entered into in an attempt to obtain a particular return when it is considered desirable to do so, possibly at a lower cost than if a Portfolio Fund or other investment had invested directly in the asset that yielded the desired return. Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to more than a year. In a standard swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments, which may be adjusted for an interest factor. The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are generally calculated with respect to a “notional amount” (i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate, in a particular foreign currency, or in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index).
Interest Rate, Mortgage and Credit Swaps
A Portfolio Fund and certain other investments may enter into interest rate swaps. Forms of swap agreements include interest rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent interest rates exceed a specified rate or “cap”; interest rate floors, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent interest rates fall below a specified level or “floor”; and interest rate collars, under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels. Mortgage swaps are similar to interest rate swaps in that they represent commitments to pay and receive interest. The notional principal amount, however, is tied to a reference pool or pools of mortgages. Credit swaps involve the receipt of floating or fixed note payments in exchange for assuming potential credit losses on an underlying security. Credit swaps give one party to a transaction the right to dispose of or acquire an asset (or group of assets), or the right to receive a payment from the other party, upon the occurrence of specified credit events.
Equity Index Swaps
A Portfolio Fund and certain other investments may enter into equity index swaps. Equity index swaps involve the exchange by a Portfolio Fund or other investment with another party of cash flows based upon the performance of an index or a portion of an index of securities that usually includes dividends. A Portfolio Fund or other investment may purchase cash-settled options on equity index swaps. A cash-settled option on a swap gives the purchaser the right, but not the obligation, in return for the premium paid, to receive an amount of cash equal to the value of the underlying swap as of the exercise date. These options typically are purchased in privately negotiated transactions from financial institutions, including securities brokerage firms.
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Currency Swaps
A Portfolio Fund and certain other investments may enter into currency swaps for both hedging and non-hedging purposes. Currency swaps involve the exchange of rights to make or receive payments in specified foreign currencies. Currency swaps usually involve the delivery of the entire principal value of one designated currency in exchange for another designated currency. Therefore, the entire principal value of a currency swap is subject to the risk that the other party to the swap will default on its contractual delivery obligations. The use of currency swaps is a highly specialized activity that involves special investment techniques and risks. Incorrect forecasts of market values and currency exchange rates can materially adversely affect the performance of a Portfolio Fund or other investment. If there is a default by the other party to such a transaction, the Portfolio Fund and other investment will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction.
Total Return Swaps
A Portfolio Fund and certain other investments may enter into total return swaps. In a total return swap, one party pays a rate of interest in exchange for the total rate of return on another investment. For example, if a Portfolio Fund or other investment wished to invest in a senior loan, it could instead enter into a total return swap and receive the total return of the senior loan, less the “funding cost,” which would be a floating interest rate payment to the counterparty.
Swaptions
A Portfolio Fund and certain other investments may also purchase and write (sell) options contracts on swaps, commonly referred to as “swaptions.” A swaption is an option to enter into a swap agreement. Like other types of options, the buyer of a swaption pays a non-refundable premium for the option and obtains the right, but not the obligation, to enter into an underlying swap on agreed-upon terms. The seller of a swaption, in exchange for the premium, becomes obligated (if the option is exercised) to enter into an underlying swap on agreed-upon terms.
Certain swap agreements into which a Portfolio Fund or other investment enters may require the calculation of the obligations of the parties to the agreements on a “net basis.” Consequently, the current obligations (or rights) of a Portfolio Fund or other investment under such swap agreements generally will be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the “net amount”). The risk of loss with respect to swaps consists of the net amount of the payments that the Portfolio Fund or other investment is contractually obligated to make. If the other party to a swap defaults, the Portfolio Fund’s or other investments’ risk of loss consists of the net amount of the payments that they contractually are entitled to receive.
Defaulted Debt Securities
The Fund Investments may include low grade or unrated debt securities (“high yield” or “junk” bonds or leveraged loans) or investments in securities of distressed companies. Such investments involve substantial, highly significant risks. For example, high yield bonds are regarded as being predominantly speculative as to the issuer’s ability to make payments of principal and interest. Issuers of high yield debt may be highly leveraged and may not have available to them more traditional methods of financing. Therefore, the risks associated with acquiring the securities of such issuers generally are greater than is the case with higher rated securities. In addition, the risk of loss due to default by the issuer is significantly greater for the holders of high yield bonds because such securities may be unsecured and may be subordinated to other creditors of the issuer.
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Distressed Securities
The Fund, a Portfolio Fund and certain other investments may invest in debt or equity securities of domestic and foreign issuers in weak financial condition, experiencing poor operating results, having substantial capital needs or negative net worth, facing special competitive or product obsolescence problems, or that are involved in bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings. Investments of this type may involve substantial financial and business risks that can result in substantial or at times even total losses. Among the risks inherent in investments in troubled entities is the fact that it frequently may be difficult to obtain information as to the true condition of such issuers. Such investments also may be adversely affected by state and federal laws relating to, among other things, fraudulent transfers and other voidable transfers or payments, lender liability, and a bankruptcy court’s power to disallow, reduce, subordinate, or disenfranchise particular claims. The market prices of such securities are also subject to abrupt and erratic market movements and above-average price volatility, and the spread between the bid and ask prices of such securities may be greater than those prevailing in other securities markets. It may take a number of years for the market price of such securities to reflect their intrinsic value. In liquidation (both in and out of bankruptcy) and other forms of corporate reorganization, there exists the risk that the reorganization either will be unsuccessful (due to, for example, failure to obtain requisite approvals), will be delayed (for example, until various liabilities, actual or contingent, have been satisfied), or will result in a distribution of cash or a new security the value of which will be less than the purchase price to the Portfolio Fund or other investment of the security in respect to which such distribution was made.
Bankruptcy in Non-U.S. Jurisdictions
Investments by the Fund and/or the Fund Investments in non-U.S. jurisdictions may be involved in restructurings, bankruptcy proceedings and/or reorganizations that are not subject to laws and regulations that are similar to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and the rights of creditors afforded in U.S. jurisdictions. To the extent such non-U.S. laws and regulations do not provide U.S.-equivalent rights and privileges necessary to promote and protect its interest in any such proceeding, the Fund and/or the Fund Investments may be adversely affected. For example, bankruptcy law and process in a non-U.S. jurisdiction may differ substantially from that in the United States, resulting in greater uncertainty as to the rights of creditors, the enforceability of such rights, reorganization timing and the classification, seniority and treatment of claims. In certain developing countries, although bankruptcy laws have been enacted, the process for reorganization remains highly uncertain. There can be no assurance that adverse developments with respect to such risks will not adversely affect the assets of the Fund or any of the Fund Investments that are held in certain countries. In addition, certain of the aforementioned risks may be increased with respect to any investments in developing and emerging markets.
Mezzanine Investments
The Fund may invest in mezzanine debt instruments, which are expected to be unsecured and made in companies with capital structures having significant indebtedness ranking ahead of the investments, all or a significant portion of which may be secured. While the investments may benefit from the same or similar financial and other covenants as those applicable to the indebtedness ranking ahead of the investments and may benefit from cross-default provisions and security over the company’s assets, some or all of such terms may not be part of particular investments and the mezzanine debt will be subordinated in recovery to senior classes of debt in the event of a default. Mezzanine investments generally are subject to various risks, including: (i) a subsequent characterization of an investment as a “fraudulent conveyance;” (ii) the recovery as a “preference” of liens perfected or payments made on account of a debt in the 90 days before a bankruptcy filing; (iii) equitable subordination claims by other creditors; (iv) so-called “lender liability” claims by the issuer of the obligations; and (v) environmental liabilities that may arise with respect to any collateral securing the obligations.
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Prepayment
The Fund is subject to the risk that the investments it makes in Portfolio Companies and in other investments may be repaid prior to maturity (e.g., “prepayment risk”). When this occurs, the Fund will generally reinvest these proceeds in Temporary Investments, pending its future investment in new Portfolio Companies or other investments. These Temporary Investments will typically have substantially lower yields than the debt being prepaid and the Fund could experience significant delays in reinvesting these amounts. Any future investment in a new Portfolio Company or other investment may also be at lower yields than the debt that was repaid. As a result, the Fund’s results of operations could be materially adversely affected if one or more of the Fund’s Portfolio Companies or other investments elect to prepay amounts owed to the Fund. Additionally, prepayments, net of prepayment fees, could negatively impact the Fund’s return on equity.
Money Market Funds
The Fund may invest in underlying money market funds that either seek to maintain a stable $1 NAV (“stable NAV money market funds”) or that have a share price that fluctuates (“variable NAV money market funds”). Although an underlying stable NAV money market fund seeks to maintain a stable $1 NAV, it is possible for the Fund to lose money by investing in such a money market fund. Because the share price of an underlying variable NAV money market fund will fluctuate, when the Fund sells the shares it owns they may be worth more or less than what the Fund originally paid for them. In addition, neither type of money market fund is designed to offer capital appreciation. Certain underlying money market funds may impose a fee upon the sale of shares or may temporarily suspend the ability to sell shares if such fund’s liquidity falls below required minimums.
U.S. Government Securities
U.S. Government debt securities historically have not involved the level of credit risks associated with investments in other types of debt securities, although, as a result, the yields available from U.S. government debt securities are generally lower than the yields available from other securities. However, in 2011 S&P downgraded its rating of U.S. government debt, suggesting an increased credit risk. Shortly thereafter, S&P also downgraded the long-term credit ratings of U.S. government-sponsored enterprises. Further downgrades could have an adverse impact on the price and volatility of U.S. government debt instruments. Like other debt securities, the values of U.S. government debt securities change as interest rates fluctuate. Fluctuations in the value of portfolio securities will not affect interest income on existing portfolio securities but will be reflected in the Fund’s NAV. Since the magnitude of these fluctuations will generally be greater at times when the Fund’s average maturity is longer, under certain market conditions the Fund may, for temporary defensive purposes, accept lower current income from short-term investments rather than investing in higher yielding long-term securities. In addition, economic events within and outside of the United States may negatively affect the value of U.S. government debt securities.
Discontinuation of LIBOR
The Fund’s investments and related payment obligations and financing terms may be based on floating rates, such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”). It is expected that LIBOR, which is commonly used as a reference rate within various financial contracts (any such rate, a “Reference Rate”), will not be published after the year 2021. In anticipation of the end of LIBOR, the United States and other countries are currently working to replace LIBOR with alternative Reference Rates. As a general matter, the expected discontinuation of LIBOR may significantly impact financial markets; specifically, discontinuation may impact financial contracts to which the Fund is a party. Generally, the transition to alternative Reference Rates may (i) cause the value of a Reference Rate to be uncertain or to be lower or more volatile than it would otherwise be; (ii) result in uncertainty as to the functioning, liquidity or value of certain financial contracts; (iii) involve actions of regulators or rate administrators that adversely affect certain markets or specific financial contracts; and (iv) impact the strategy, products, processes, legal positions and information systems of market participants, including the Fund and its counterparties. With respect to financial contracts to which the Fund is a party, any such contract that has a maturity that extends beyond 2021 and uses LIBOR as a Reference Rate (other than contracts that include curative fallback language or other curative mechanisms) may need to be renegotiated, the process of which will consume resources of the Fund and may result in disputes among counterparties, the result of which may be adverse to the Fund. Considered in their entirety, the impacts of the discontinuation of LIBOR on financial markets generally and on the specific financial contracts to which the Fund is a party may adversely affect the performance of the Fund.
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Additional Method of Investing in a Portfolio Fund
The Fund will typically invest directly in a Portfolio Fund by purchasing an interest in such Portfolio Fund. There may be situations, however, where a Portfolio Fund is not open or available for direct investment by the Fund or where the Adviser elects for other reasons to invest indirectly in a Portfolio Fund (including, without limitation, restrictions of the Investment Company Act). On occasions where the Adviser determines that an indirect investment is the most effective or efficient means of gaining exposure to a Portfolio Fund, the Fund may invest in a Portfolio Fund indirectly, such as by purchasing a structured note or entering into a swap or other contract paying a return tied to the return of a Portfolio Fund. In the case of a structured note or a swap, a counterparty would agree to pay to the Fund a return based on the return of the Portfolio Fund, in exchange for consideration paid by the Fund equivalent to the cost of purchasing an ownership interest in the Portfolio Fund. Indirect investment through a swap or similar contract in a Portfolio Fund carries with it the credit risk associated with the counterparty. Indirect investments will generally be subject to transaction and other fees, which will reduce the value of the Fund’s investment. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s indirect investment in a Portfolio Fund will have the same or similar results as a direct investment in the Portfolio Fund, and the Fund’s value may decrease as a result of such indirect investment. When the Fund makes an indirect investment in a Portfolio Fund by investing in a structured note, swap, or other contract intended to pay a return equal to the total return of such Portfolio Fund, such investment by the Fund may be subject to additional regulations.
Cyber Security Risk
The Fund and its service providers may be prone to operational and information security risks resulting from breaches in cyber security. A breach in cyber security refers to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause the Fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption, or lose operational capacity. Breaches in cyber security include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized release of confidential information or various other forms of cyber-attacks. Cyber security breaches affecting the Fund, the Adviser, financial intermediaries and other third-party service providers may adversely impact the Fund. For instance, cyber security breaches may interfere with the processing of Shareholder transactions, impact the Fund’s ability to calculate its net asset value, cause the release of private Shareholder information or confidential business information, impede investment activities, subject the Fund to regulatory fines or financial losses and/or cause reputational damage. The Fund may also incur additional costs for cyber security risk management purposes. Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for the issuers of securities in which the Fund may invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers and may cause the Fund to lose value.
Pandemic Risk
The continuing spread of an infectious respiratory illness caused by a novel strain of coronavirus (known as COVID-19) has caused volatility, severe market dislocations and liquidity constraints in many markets and may adversely affect the Fund’s investments and operations. The outbreak was first detected in December 2019 and subsequently spread globally. The transmission of COVID-19 and efforts to contain its spread have resulted in international and domestic travel restrictions and disruptions, closed international borders, enhanced health screenings at ports of entry and elsewhere, disruption of and delays in healthcare service preparation and delivery, quarantines, event and service cancellations or interruptions, disruptions to business operations (including staff reductions), supply chains and consumer activity, as well as general concern and uncertainty that has negatively affected the economic environment. These disruptions have led to instability in the marketplace, including stock and credit market losses and overall volatility. The impact of COVID-19, and other infectious illness outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics that may arise in the future, could adversely affect the economies of many nations or the entire global economy, the financial performance of individual issuers, borrowers and sectors and the health of the markets generally in potentially significant and unforeseen ways. In addition, the impact of infectious illnesses, such as COVID-19, in emerging market countries may be greater due to generally less established healthcare systems. This crisis or other public health crises may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks in certain countries or globally.
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The Fund and Adviser have in place business continuity plans reasonably designed to ensure that they maintain normal business operations, and that the Fund, its portfolio and assets are protected. However, in the event of a pandemic or an outbreak, such as COVID-19, there can be no assurance that the Fund, its Adviser and service providers, or the Fund’s portfolio companies, will be able to maintain normal business operations for an extended period of time or will not lose the services of key personnel on a temporary or long-term basis due to illness or other reasons. A pandemic or disease could also impair the information technology and other operational systems upon which the Fund’s Adviser relies and could otherwise disrupt the ability of the Fund’s service providers to perform essential tasks.
To satisfy any repurchase requests during periods of extreme volatility, such as those associated with COVID-19, it is more likely the Fund will be required to dispose of portfolio investments at unfavorable prices compared to their intrinsic value. In addition, any repurchase completed while the Fund has unrealized losses may cause the investors whose shares were repurchased to crystalize their losses even if such unrealized losses do not ultimately convert into realized losses. You should review this prospectus and the SAI to understand the Fund’s discretion to implement temporary defensive measures.
The foregoing could lead to a significant economic downturn or recession, increased market volatility, a greater number of market closures, higher default rates and adverse effects on the values and liquidity of securities or other assets. Such impacts, which may vary across asset classes, may adversely affect the performance of the Fund’s investments, the Fund and your investment in the Fund. In certain cases, an exchange or market may close or issue trading halts on either specific securities or even the entire market, which may result in the Fund being, among other things, unable to buy or sell certain securities or financial instruments or to accurately price its investments.
Governmental authorities and regulators throughout the world, such as the U.S. Federal Reserve, have in the past responded to major economic disruptions with changes to fiscal and monetary policy, including but not limited to, direct capital infusions, new monetary programs and dramatically lower interest rates. Certain of those policy changes are being implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Such policy changes may adversely affect the value, volatility and liquidity of dividend and interest paying securities. The effect of recent efforts undertaken by the U.S. Federal Reserve to address the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the reduction of the federal funds target rate, and other monetary and fiscal actions that may be taken by the U.S. federal government to stimulate the U.S. economy, are not yet fully known. The duration of the COVID-19 outbreak and its full impacts are also unknown, resulting in a high degree of uncertainty for potentially extended periods of time, especially in certain sectors in which the Fund may make investments.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
The business operations of the Fund are managed and supervised under the direction of the Board, subject to the laws of the State of Delaware and the Fund’s agreement and declaration of trust (“Declaration of Trust”). The Board has overall responsibility for the management and supervision of the business affairs of the Fund on behalf of its Shareholders, including the authority to establish policies regarding the management, conduct and operation of its business. The Board exercises the same powers, authority and responsibilities on behalf of the Fund as are customarily exercised by the board of directors of a registered investment company organized as a corporation. The officers of the Fund conduct and supervise the daily business operations of the Fund.
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The trustees of the Board (each, a “Trustee”) are not required to contribute to the capital of the Fund or to hold interests therein. A majority of Trustees of the Board are not “interested persons” (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the Fund (collectively, the “Independent Trustees”).
The identity of Trustees of the Board and officers of the Fund, and their brief biographical information, including their addresses, their year of birth and descriptions of their principal occupations during the past five years is set forth below.
The Trustees serve on the Board for terms of indefinite duration. A Trustee’s position in that capacity will terminate if the Trustee is removed or resigns or, among other events, upon the Trustee’s death, incapacity, retirement or bankruptcy. A Trustee may resign upon written notice to the other Trustees of the Fund, and may be removed either by (i) the vote of at least two-thirds of the Trustees of the Fund not subject to the removal vote or (ii) the vote of Shareholders holding not less than two-thirds of the total number of votes eligible to be cast by all Shareholders of the Fund. In the event of any vacancy in the position of a Trustee, the remaining Trustees of the Fund may appoint an individual to serve as a Trustee so long as immediately after the appointment at least two-thirds of the Trustees of the Fund then serving have been elected by the Shareholders of the Fund. The Board may call a meeting of the Shareholders to fill any vacancy in the position of a Trustee of the Fund, and must do so if the Trustees who were elected by the Shareholders cease to constitute a majority of the Trustees then serving on the Board.
The Board believes that each of the Trustees’ experience, qualifications, attributes and skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Trustees lead to the conclusion that each Trustee should serve in such capacity. Among the attributes common to all Trustees is the ability to review critically, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, to interact effectively with the other Trustees, the Adviser, other service providers, counsel and the independent registered public accounting firm, and to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties as Trustees. A Trustee’s ability to perform his or her duties effectively may have been attained through the Trustee’s business, consulting, and public service work; experience as a board member of non-profit entities or other organizations; education or professional training; and/or other life experiences. In addition to these shared characteristics, set forth below is a brief discussion of the specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills of each Trustee. Specific details regarding each Trustee’s principal occupations during the past five years are included in the tables below. See “Board of Trustees and Officers—Independent Trustees” and “Board of Trustees and Officers—Interested Trustees and Officers.”
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
NAME,
ADDRESS |
POSITION(S) |
LENGTH
OF |
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) DURING PAST 5 YEARS |
PORTFOLIOS IN FUND COMPLEX OVERSEEN BY TRUSTEE |
OTHER |
|||||
Kent Misener 1952 |
Trustee |
Since Inception |
President and Chief Investment Officer (since 2015) at VeraPath Global Investing LLC |
1 |
None |
|||||
Taylor Nadauld 1978 |
Trustee |
Since Inception |
Professor of Finance (since 2009) at Brigham Young University |
1 |
None |
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| * | Each Trustee serves an indefinite term, until his successor is elected. |
| ** | Includes any company with a class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or subject to the requirements of Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act or any company registered under the Investment Company Act. |
INTERESTED TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
NAME,
ADDRESS |
POSITION(S) |
LENGTH
OF |
PRINCIPAL
OCCUPATION(S) |
PORTFOLIOS IN FUND COMPLEX OVERSEEN BY TRUSTEE |
OTHER |
|||||
Brooks Lindberg 1972 |
Trustee |
Since Inception |
Managing Director (since 2020) at Portfolio Advisors, LLC; Private investor (2016-2020). |
1 |
N/A |
|||||
Scott Higbee 1973 |
President |
Since Inception |
Managing Director (since 2020) at Portfolio Advisors, LLC; Senior Managing Director (2015-2020) at Goldpoint Partners. |
N/A |
N/A |
|||||
Daniel Iamiceli 1970 |
Treasurer |
Since Inception |
Chief Financial Officer-Funds (since 2017) at Portfolio Advisors, LLC; Head of Fund Operations-Alternatives, Americas (2015-2017) at Aberdeen Asset Management. |
N/A |
N/A |
|||||
Daniel Dwyer 1970 |
Secretary |
Since Inception |
Chief Compliance Officer (since 2013) at Portfolio Advisors, LLC. |
N/A |
N/A |
|||||
Lucas Foss 1977 |
Chief Compliance Officer |
Since Inception |
Vice President and Deputy Chief Compliance Officer (since 2017) at Fund Services, Inc.; Director of Compliance (2015- 2017) at Transamerica Asset Management. |
N/A |
N/A |
* Each Trustee serves an indefinite term, until his successor is elected. |
14
| ** | Includes any company with a class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act or subject to the requirements of Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act or any company registered under the Investment Company Act. |
Leadership Structure and Oversight Responsibilities
Overall responsibility for oversight of the Fund rests with the Board. The Fund has engaged the Adviser to manage the Fund on a day-to-day basis. The Board is responsible for overseeing the Adviser and other service providers in the operations of the Fund in accordance with the provisions of the Investment Company Act, applicable provisions of state and other laws and the Declaration of Trust. The Board is currently composed of three members, two of whom are Independent Trustees. The Board will meet in-person at regularly scheduled meetings four times each year. In addition, the Board may hold special in-person or telephonic meetings or informal conference calls to discuss specific matters that may arise or require action between regular meetings. The Independent Trustees have also engaged independent legal counsel to assist them in performing their oversight responsibility. The Independent Trustees will meet with their independent legal counsel in-person prior to and during each quarterly in-person board meeting. As described below, the Board has established an audit committee (the “Audit Committee”), a nominating committee (the “Nominating Committee”), and a valuation committee (the “Valuation Committee”), and may establish ad hoc committees or working groups from time to time to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities.
The Board has appointed Taylor Nadauld, an Independent Trustee, to serve in the role of Chairman. The Chairman’s role is to preside at all meetings of the Board and to act as liaison with the Adviser, other service providers, counsel and other Trustees generally between meetings. The Chairman serves as a key point person for dealings between management and the Trustees. The Chairman may also perform such other functions as may be delegated by the Board from time to time. The Board has determined that the Board’s leadership structure is appropriate because it allows the Board to exercise informed and independent judgment over matters under its purview and it allocates areas of responsibility among committees of Trustees and the full Board in a manner that enhances effective oversight.
The Fund is subject to a number of risks, including investment, compliance, operational and valuation risks, among others. Risk oversight forms part of the Board’s general oversight of the Fund and will be addressed as part of various Board and committee activities. Day-to-day risk management functions are subsumed within the responsibilities of the Adviser and other service providers (depending on the nature of the risk), which carry out the Fund’s investment management and business affairs. The Adviser and other service providers employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify various events or circumstances that give rise to risks, to lessen the probability of their occurrence and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Each of the Adviser and other service providers has their own independent interests in risk management, and their policies and methods of risk management will depend on their functions and business models. The Board recognizes that it is not possible to identify all of the risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. The Board will require senior officers of the Fund, including the President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer, and the Adviser, to report to the full Board on a variety of matters at regular and special meetings of the Board, including matters relating to risk management. The Board and the Audit Committee will also receive regular reports from the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm on internal control and financial reporting matters. The Board will also receive reports from certain of the Fund’s other primary service providers on a periodic or regular basis, including the Fund’s custodian and distributor. The Board may, at any time and in its discretion, change the manner in which it conducts risk oversight.
15
Committees of the Board of Trustees
Audit Committee
The Board has formed an Audit Committee that is responsible for overseeing the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, its internal controls, and, as appropriate, the internal controls of certain service providers; overseeing the quality and objectivity of the Fund’s financial statements and the independent audit of those financial statements; and acting as a liaison between the Fund’s independent auditors and the full Board. In performing its responsibilities, the Audit Committee will select and recommend annually to the entire Board a firm of independent certified public accountants to audit the books and records of the Fund for the ensuing year, and will review with the firm the scope and results of each audit. The Audit Committee currently consists of each of the Fund’s Independent Trustees. As the Fund is recently organized, the Audit Committee did not hold any meetings during the last year.
Nominating Committee
The Board has formed a Nominating Committee that is responsible for selecting and nominating persons to serve as Trustees of the Fund. The Nominating Committee is responsible for both nominating candidates to be appointed by the Board to fill vacancies and for nominating candidates to be presented to Shareholders for election. In performing its responsibilities, the Nominating Committee will consider candidates recommended by management of the Fund and by Shareholders and evaluate them both in a similar manner, as long as the recommendation submitted by a Shareholder includes at a minimum: the name, address and telephone number of the recommending Shareholder and information concerning the Shareholder’s interests in the Fund in sufficient detail to establish that the Shareholder held Shares on the relevant record date; and the name, address and telephone number of the recommended nominee and information concerning the recommended nominee’s education, professional experience, and other information that might assist the Nominating Committee in evaluating the recommended nominee’s qualifications to serve as a trustee. The Nominating Committee may solicit candidates to serve as trustees from any source it deems appropriate. With the Board’s prior approval, the Nominating Committee may employ and compensate counsel, consultants or advisers to assist it in discharging its responsibilities. The Nominating Committee currently consists of each of the Fund’s Independent Trustees. As the Fund is recently organized, the Nominating Committee did not hold any meetings during the last year.
Valuation Committee
The Board has formed a Valuation Committee that is responsible for reviewing fair valuations of securities held by the Fund in instances as required by the valuation procedures adopted by the Board and is responsible for carrying out the provisions of its charter. As the Fund is recently organized, the Valuation Committee did not hold any meetings during the last year.
Trustee Ownership of Securities
The Fund has not yet commenced operations, therefore none of the Trustees own shares of the Fund.
Independent Trustee Ownership of Securities of the Adviser
The Fund has not yet commenced operations. Therefore, none of the Independent Trustees (or their immediate family members) owned securities of the Adviser, or of an entity (other than a registered investment company) controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser.
16
Trustee Compensation
In consideration of the services rendered by the Independent Trustees, the Fund pays each Independent Trustee a retainer of $35,000 per year and an addition retainer of $5,000 per year for the Chairman and Audit Committee Chair. Trustees that are interested persons will not be compensated by the Fund. The Trustees do not receive any pension or retirement benefits.
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the compensation of the Funds’ Trustees.
Name of Trustee |
|
Aggregate Compensation from the Fund(1) |
|
|
Total Compensation from Funds and Fund Complex Paid to Trustees(2) |
|
||
Kent Misener |
|
$ |
40,000 |
|
|
$ |
40,000 |
|
Taylor Nadauld |
|
$ |
40,000 |
|
|
$ |
40,000 |
|
|
(1) The compensation estimated to be paid by the Fund for the first full fiscal year for services to the Fund. |
|
(2) The total estimated compensation to be paid from the Fund and Fund Complex for a full calendar year. |
CODES OF ETHICS
The Fund and the Adviser have each adopted a code of ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 of the Investment Company Act, which is designed to prevent affiliated persons of the Fund and the Adviser from engaging in deceptive, manipulative, or fraudulent activities in connection with securities held or to be acquired by the Fund. The codes of ethics permit persons subject to them to invest in securities, including securities that may be held or purchased by the Fund, subject to a number of restrictions and controls. Compliance with the codes of ethics is carefully monitored and enforced.
The codes of ethics are included as exhibits to the Fund’s registration statement filed with the SEC. The codes of ethics are available on the EDGAR database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov, and may be obtained after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following E-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SERVICES
The Adviser
Portfolio Advisors, LLC, an investment adviser registered with the SEC under the Advisers Act, serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. Subject to the general supervision of the Board, and in accordance with the investment objective, policies, and restrictions of the Fund, the Adviser is responsible for determining and implementing the Fund’s overall investment strategy. The Adviser provides such services to the Fund pursuant to the investment management agreement (the “Investment Management Agreement”).
The Investment Management Agreement will become effective as of Initial Closing Date, and will continue in effect for an initial two-year term. Thereafter, the Investment Management Agreement will continue in effect from year to year provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, or a majority of the Board, and (ii) the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees of the Fund, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. See “VOTING” in the Prospectus. The Investment Management Agreement will terminate automatically if assigned (as defined in the Investment Company Act) and is terminable at any time without penalty upon 60 days’ written notice to the Fund by either the Board or the Adviser. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Investment Management Agreement will be available in the Fund’s first annual or semi-annual report to shareholders.
17
The Investment Management Agreement provides that, in the absence of willful misfeasance or gross negligence of its obligations to the Fund, the Adviser and any partner, director, officer or employee of the Adviser, or any of their affiliates, executors, heirs, assigns, successors or other legal representatives, will not be liable for any error of judgment, for any mistake of law or for any act or omission by the person in connection with the performance of services to the Fund. The Investment Management Agreement also provides for indemnification, to the fullest extent permitted by law, by the Fund, of the Adviser, or any partner, director, officer or employee of the Adviser, and any of their affiliates, executors, heirs, assigns, successors or other legal representatives, against any liability or expense to which the person may be liable that arises in connection with the performance of services to the Fund, so long as the liability or expense is not incurred by reason of the person’s willful misfeasance or gross negligence of its obligations to the Fund. Such indemnification includes losses sustained by the Adviser or its affiliates as an indemnitor under any servicing or other agreement entered into by the Adviser for the benefit of the Fund to the extent that such losses relate to the Fund and the indemnity giving rise to the losses is not broader than that granted by the Fund to the Adviser or its affiliates pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement. The Fund has the right to consent before the Adviser settles or consents to the settlement of a claim involving such indemnitor losses (but such consent right will not affect the Adviser’s entitlement to indemnification).
The Fund will pay the Adviser an investment management fee (the “Investment Management Fee”) in consideration of the advisory services provided by the Adviser to the Fund. Pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement, the Fund will pay an Investment Management Fee at a quarterly rate of 0.3125% (1.25%, on an annualized basis), of the Fund’s Managed Investments at the end of each calendar quarter. “Managed Investments” means the total value of the Fund’s assets (including any assets attributable to money borrowed for investment purposes) plus any unfunded investment commitments (i.e., amounts committed to Fund Investments that have not yet been drawn for investment), minus the sum of the Fund’s accrued liabilities (other than money borrowed for investment purposes), minus cash and cash equivalents. The Investment Management Fee is paid to the Adviser out of the Fund’s assets and decreases the net profits or increases the net losses of the Fund. The Investment Management Fee will be computed as of the last day of each calendar quarter and will be due and payable in arrears within fifteen business days after the end of such calendar quarter. The Adviser is also reimbursed by the Fund for out-of-pocket expenses relating to services provided to the Fund.
The Investment Management Fee is paid to the Adviser before giving effect to any repurchase of Shares in the Fund effective as of that date and will decrease the net profits or increase the net losses of the Fund that are credited to its Shareholders. The basis for the Investment Management Fee could be larger than the Fund’s net asset value due to unfunded commitments to invest in Fund Investments. Investors are advised that the actual amount of unfunded commitments will be disclosed in the Fund’s published financial statements.
A portion of the Investment Management Fee may be paid to brokers or dealers that assist in the distribution of Shares, including brokers or dealers that may be affiliated with the Adviser.
In addition, the Adviser (or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, an affiliate of the Adviser) will be entitled to receive an incentive fee (the “Incentive Fee”) calculated and payable quarterly in arrears equal to 10% of the excess, if any, of (i) the net profits (as defined below) of the Fund for the relevant period over (ii) the then balance, if any, of the Loss Recovery Account (as defined below). For purposes of the Incentive Fee, the term “net profits” means the amount by which the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund on the last day of the relevant period exceeds the NAV of the Fund as of the commencement of the same period, including any net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation of investments and realized income and gains or losses and expenses (which, for this purpose shall not include any distribution and/or shareholder servicing fees, litigation, any extraordinary expenses or Incentive Fee and any amount contributed to or withdrawn from the Fund by shareholders). The Fund will maintain a memorandum account (the “Loss Recovery Account”), which will have an initial balance of zero and will be (i) increased upon the close of each calendar quarter of the Fund by the amount of the net losses of the Fund for the quarter, and (ii) decreased (but not below zero) upon the close of each calendar quarter by the amount of the net profits of the Fund for the quarter. Shareholders will benefit from the Loss Recovery Account in proportion to their holdings of Shares.
18
The Adviser intends to enter into an expense limitation agreement (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”) with the Fund, whereby the Adviser has agreed to waive fees that it would otherwise be paid, and/or to assume expenses of the Fund (a “Waiver”), if required to ensure the Total Annual Expenses (excluding taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, certain transaction-related expenses, extraordinary expenses, the Investment Management Fee, Incentive Fee and any acquired fund fees and expenses) do not exceed 2.00%, 1.00% and 2.00% of the average daily net assets of Class A Shares, Class I Shares and Class D Shares, respectively (the “Expense Limit”). For a period not to exceed three years from the date on which a Waiver is made, the Adviser may recoup amounts waived or assumed, provided it is able to effect such recoupment without causing the Fund’s expense ratio (after recoupment) to exceed the lesser of (a) the expense limit in effect at the time of the waiver, and (b) the expense limit in effect at the time of the recoupment. The Expense Limitation Agreement will have a term ending one year from the date the Fund commences operations, and will automatically renew thereafter for up to two additional consecutive twelve-month terms, provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Trustees. The Expense Limitation Agreement may be terminated by the Fund’s Board of Trustees upon thirty days’ written notice to the Adviser.
Adviser Management Team
The personnel of the Adviser who currently have primary responsibility for management of the Fund (the “Portfolio Managers”) are:
Kenneth G. Binick, Co-Head Equity Co-Investments. Ken joined Portfolio Advisors in 2008 and has 15 years of private markets experience. Prior to joining Portfolio Advisors, he worked in the leveraged finance groups of both CIBC World Markets and Morgan Stanley, where he focused on middle-market and large-cap leveraged buyout transactions. Prior to investment banking, Ken was at CallStreet, a financial technology start-up. Ken holds a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from Vanderbilt University.
Elizabeth M. Campbell, Primary Investments, Executive Committee. Liz joined Portfolio Advisors in 2013 and has 13 years of private markets experience. Prior to joining Portfolio Advisors, she was responsible for due diligence, project management, and market research at Stanwich Advisors, a boutique investment bank specializing in capital raising and advisory services for private equity funds. Liz holds a B.A. from Middlebury College.
Dan Cohn-Sfetcu, CFA, Head Senior Credit Investments, Executive Committee. Dan joined Portfolio Advisors in 2018 and has 18 years of private markets experience. Prior to joining Portfolio Advisors, he spent three years as a managing director in the private credit team at the Carlyle Group. Previously, Dan spent twelve years investing in middle-market private equity and credit with American Capital, Richardson Capital, and Brookstone Partners. Dan holds a B.Com from Queen’s University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Gregory J. Garrett, Head Primary Investments. Greg joined Portfolio Advisors in 2010 and has 20 years of private markets experience. Prior to joining Portfolio Advisors, he was a partner at Adams Street Partners and a member of its primary investment team. Previously, Greg was a manager at the Boston Consulting Group and a captain in the United States Air Force commanding aircraft in support of international military operations. Greg holds a B.S. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School.
Scott Higbee, Global Co-Head Markets, Management Committee. Scott joined Portfolio Advisors in 2020 and has 20 years of private markets experience. Prior to joining Portfolio Advisors, he was a senior managing director at GoldPoint Partners, where he led global capital raising for mid-market equity and credit strategies for four years. Previously, Scott was a partner at Partners Group, where he led business development and capital raising in the Americas for more than 14 years. Scott holds both a B.S. and an M.B.A. from Brigham Young University.
19
John M. Kyles, Head Credit Strategies, Chief Operating Officer, Executive Committee. John joined Portfolio Advisors in 2009 and has 24 years of private markets experience. Prior to joining Portfolio Advisors, he was a director at Citigroup, where he structured and executed more than $6 billion in private placements for public and private companies in a variety of industries. John holds a B.A. from Bucknell University, a J.D. from DePaul University College of Law, and an M.B.A. from Cornell University, where he was a Park Fellow.
Brooks Lindberg, Head Registered Products, Management Committee. Brooks joined Portfolio Advisors in 2020 and has 21 years of private markets experience. Prior to joining Portfolio Advisors, he spent five years as an operating partner and investor in several private companies. Previously, he was a partner at Partners Group, where he led structuring, marketing and operations for an SEC-registered private equity fund. While at Partners Group, he served in various roles including head distribution partners, head structuring services and co-head real estate. Brooks holds a B.S. from the University of Florida and an M.B.A. from Brigham Young University, where he was a Hawes Scholar.
Brian Mooney, CFA, Co-Head GP Secondary Investments. Brian joined Portfolio Advisors in 2021, has 22 years of private markets experience and has advised on approximately $40 billion of secondary transactions. Prior to joining Portfolio Advisors, he was a co-founder and managing director at Cogent Partners from 2002 through its sale to Greenhill in 2015. At Greenhill, he headed GP-led secondary activities globally. Brian holds a B.B.A. from the University of Texas, an M.B.A. from Columbia University and London Business School, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Brian P. Murphy, CFA, Managing Partner, Global Co-Head Markets, Management Committee. Brian joined Portfolio Advisors in 1996 and has 32 years of private markets experience. Prior to joining Portfolio Advisors, he was a senior vice president of Morris Anderson Investment Advisors, where he co-managed a $385 million portfolio of direct and partnership investments. He started his private equity advisory career while at Chemical Bank Corporation. Brian holds a B.A. from Brigham Young University, an M.B.A. from Columbia University, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Hugh J. Perloff, Head LP Secondary Investments. Hugh joined Portfolio Advisors in 1998 and has 23 years of private markets experience. He has led the firm’s secondary investment strategy across 24 vehicles totaling more than $7 billion in total commitments. Prior to joining Portfolio Advisors, he was a senior accountant with Deloitte & Touche for five years, where he performed accounting and audit work for domestic and foreign and public and private clients. He holds a B.A. from Brown University, and an M.B.A. from the University of Connecticut.
Stephen Sloan, Global Head Secondary Investments, Management Committee. Stephen joined Portfolio Advisors in 2020, has 20 years of private markets experience and has advised on approximately $40 billion of secondary transactions. Prior to joining Portfolio Advisors, he was a co-founder of Cogent Partners, which he led from 2002 through its sale to Greenhill in 2015. At Greenhill, he was global head of the capital advisory group and a member the management committee. Previously he was at Goldman Sachs. Stephen holds a B.S. from Brigham Young University, and both an M.A. and M.B.A. from University of Pennsylvania.
20
Other Accounts Managed by the Portfolio Managers
|
Number
of Other Accounts Managed and Total |
|
Number of Other Accounts and
Total Value of Assets |
|||||||||
|
Registered (in millions) |
Other pooled (in millions) |
|
Other (in millions) |
|
Registered |
|
Other pooled |
|
Other |
||
Kenneth G. Binick |
1 account, investing $26 |
9 pooled investment vehicles, investing $2,592 |
|
16 accounts, investing $13,184 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
||
Elizabeth M. Campbell |
1 account, investing $26 |
10 pooled investment vehicles, investing $2,080 |
|
16 accounts, investing $13,184 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
||
Dan Cohn-Sfetcu |
0 |
4 pooled investment vehicles, investing $1,740 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
||
Gregory J. Garrett |
1 account, investing $26 |
12 pooled investment vehicles, investing $2,435 |
|
16 accounts, investing $13,184 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
||
Scott Higbee |
0 |
6 pooled investment vehicles, investing $2,095 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
||
John M. Kyles |
1 account, investing $26 |
7 pooled investment vehicles, investing $2,237 |
|
16 accounts, investing $13,184 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
||
Brooks Lindberg |
1 account, investing $26 |
7 pooled investment vehicles, investing $2,237 |
|
16 accounts, investing $13,184 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
||
Brian Mooney |
0 |
8 pooled investment vehicles, investing $3,323 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
||
Brian P. Murphy, CFA |
1 account, investing $26 |
16 pooled investment vehicles, investing $4,175 |
|
16 accounts, investing $13,184 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
||
Hugh J. Perloff |
1 account, investing $26 |
16 pooled investment vehicles, investing $4,175 |
|
16 accounts, investing $13,184 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
||
Stephen Sloan |
1 account, investing $26 |
14 pooled investment vehicles, investing $3,820 |
|
16 accounts, investing $13,184 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
||
21
Conflicts of Interest
The Portfolio Managers may manage separate accounts or other pooled investment vehicles that may have materially higher or different fee arrangements than the Fund and may also be subject to performance-based fees. The side-by-side management of these separate accounts and pooled investment vehicles may raise potential conflicts of interest relating to cross-trading and the allocation of investment opportunities. The Adviser has a fiduciary responsibility to manage all client accounts in a fair and equitable manner. The Adviser seeks to provide best execution of all securities transactions and to allocate investments to client accounts in a fair and reasonable manner. To this end, the Adviser has developed policies and procedures designed to mitigate and manage the potential conflicts of interest that may arise from side-by-side management.
Compensation of the Portfolio Managers
A competitive base salary and a performance-based bonus structure are in place for all team members. Portfolio Managers, analysts, and other associates are paid a competitive base salary and discretionary bonus based on their fiduciary investment responsibilities, performance of the individual, and performance of the firm. The discretionary bonus structure gives the Adviser the ability to remain competitive under current market conditions affecting compensation across the industry. The discretionary bonus may be payable in both cash and equity. In addition, certain employees of the Adviser also receive carried interest from certain of the Adviser’s clients.
Portfolio Manager Ownership of Securities in the Fund
The Fund has not yet commenced operations, therefore none of the Portfolio Managers own Shares of the Fund.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE ALLOCATION
The Adviser will generally select brokers and dealers to effect transactions on behalf of the Fund in substantially the following manner. When the Adviser is aware that portfolio securities it intends to purchase for the Fund are available from multiple sources, such as multiple alternative trading systems or placement agents, the Adviser will undertake best efforts to obtain and retain two or more, as it deems appropriate, alternative quotes for such portfolio securities and document why the Adviser selected a source for any resulting purchase.
In selecting brokers and dealers to effect transactions on behalf of the Fund, the Adviser will seek to obtain the best price and execution for the transactions, taking into account factors such as price, size of order, difficulty of execution and operational facilities of a brokerage firm and the firm’s risk in positioning a block of securities. As described below, the Adviser may place orders with brokers that provide research services. Such transactions shall comply with the safe harbor (the “Safe Harbor”) under Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), with respect to the receipt of such services.
Consistent with the principle of seeking best price and execution, the Adviser may place brokerage orders with brokers that provide the Fund and the Adviser with supplemental research, market and statistical information, including advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities, and furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy and the performance of accounts.
In most instances, the Fund will purchase interests in a Portfolio Fund directly from the Portfolio Fund, and such purchases by the Fund may be, but are generally not, subject to transaction expenses. Nevertheless, the Fund anticipates that some of its portfolio transactions (including investments in Portfolio Funds by the Fund) may be subject to expenses. Given the private markets focus of a majority of the Portfolio Funds, significant brokerage commissions are not anticipated to be paid by such funds.
22
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM; LEGAL COUNSEL
Cohen & Company, Ltd., located at 151 North Franklin Street, Suite 575, Chicago, IL 60606, has been selected as independent registered public accountants for the Fund and in such capacity will audit the Fund’s annual financial statements.
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, One Logan Square, Suite 2000, Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996, serves as counsel to the Fund.
CUSTODIAN
UMB Bank, n.a., which has its principal office at 1010 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64106 (the “Custodian”) serves as the primary custodian of the assets of the Fund, and may maintain custody of such assets with U.S. and non-U.S. sub-custodians (which may be banks, trust companies, securities depositories and clearing agencies) in accordance with the requirements of Section 17(f) of the Investment Company Act. Assets of the Fund are not held by the Adviser or commingled with the assets of other accounts other than to the extent that securities are held in the name of the Custodian or U.S. or non-U.S. sub-custodians in a securities depository, clearing agency or omnibus customer account of such custodian.
CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
The Fund will calculate its net asset value as of the close of business on the last business day of each calendar month, each date that a Share is offered or repurchased, as of the date of any distribution and at such other times as the Board shall determine (each, a “Determination Date”). In determining its net asset value, the Fund will value its investments as of the relevant Determination Date. The net asset value of the Fund will equal, unless otherwise noted, the value of the total assets of the Fund, less all of its liabilities, including accrued fees and expenses, each determined as of the relevant Determination Date. The net asset values of Class A Shares, Class I Shares and Class D Shares will be calculated separately based on the fees and expenses applicable to each class. It is expected that the net asset values of Class A Shares, Class I Shares and Class D Shares will vary over time due to the different fees and expenses applicable to each class.
PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
The Board has delegated responsibility for decisions regarding proxy voting for securities held by the Fund to the Adviser. The Adviser will vote such proxies in accordance with its proxy policies and procedures. Copies of the Adviser’s proxy policies and procedures are included as Appendix B to this SAI. The Board will periodically review the Fund’s proxy voting record.
The Fund will be required to file Form N-PX, with its complete proxy voting record for the twelve months ended June 30, no later than August 31 of each year. The Fund’s Form N-PX filing will be available: (i) without charge, upon request, by calling the Fund at 844-663-0164 or (ii) by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS
The Declaration of Trust provides that by virtue of becoming a Shareholder of the Fund, each Shareholder shall be held expressly to have agreed to be bound by the provisions of the Declaration of Trust. However, Shareholders should be aware that they cannot waive their rights under the federal securities laws. The Declaration of Trust provides a detailed process for bringing of derivative actions by Shareholders for claims other than federal securities law claims. This derivative actions process is intended to permit legitimate inquiries and claims while avoiding the time, expense, distraction, and other harm that can be caused to the Fund or its Shareholders as a result of spurious shareholder demands and derivative actions. Therefore, the Declaration of Trust details conditions that must be met with respect to the demand. Prior to bringing a derivative action, a demand by the complaining Shareholder must first be made on the Trustees. Following receipt of the demand, the Trustees must be afforded a reasonable amount of time to investigate and consider the demand. The Trustees will be entitled to retain counsel or other advisors in considering the merits of the request and shall require an undertaking by the shareholders making such request to reimburse the Fund for the expense of any such advisors in the event that the Trustees determine not to bring such action. The Fund’s process for bringing derivative suits may be more restrictive than other investment companies. The process for derivative actions for the Fund also may make it more expensive for a shareholder to bring a suit than if the shareholder was not required to follow such a process.
23
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
The Fund has not yet commenced operations, therefore no Shares of the Fund are currently owned.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Appendix A to this SAI provides financial information regarding the Fund. The Fund’s financial statements have been audited by Cohen & Company, Ltd.
24
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A registration statement on Form N-2, including amendments thereto, relating to the Shares offered hereby, has been filed by the Fund with the SEC. The Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information do not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement, including any exhibits and schedules thereto. For further information with respect to the Fund and the Shares offered hereby, reference is made to the registration statement. A copy of the registration statement may be reviewed and copied on the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Prospective investors can also request copies of these materials, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the SEC’s e-mail address (publicinfo@sec.gov)
25
APPENDIX A
A-1
MVP Private Markets Fund
Financial Statements
October 28, 2021
Table of Contents
| Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | 1 |
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | 2 |
| Statement of Operations | 3 |
| Notes to Financial Statements | 4-6 |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholder and Board of Trustees of
MVP Private Markets Fund
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of MVP Private Markets Fund (the “Fund”) as of October 28, 2021, the related statement of operations for the one day then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of October 28, 2021, and the results of its operations for the one day then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audit includes performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures include examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and confirmation of cash owned as of October 28, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
We have served as the Fund’s auditor since 2021.
COHEN & COMPANY, LTD.
Chicago, Illinois
November 8, 2021
MVP Private Markets Fund
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
October 28, 2021
| Assets: | ||||
| Cash | $ | 100,000 | ||
| Receivable from Adviser (Note 3) | 272,661 | |||
| Deferred offering costs (Note 3) | 26,308 | |||
| Total Assets | $ | 398,969 | ||
| Liabilities: | ||||
| Due to Adviser (Note 3) | $ | 298,969 | ||
| Net Assets | $ | 100,000 | ||
| Components of Net Assets: | ||||
| Paid-in capital | $ | 100,000 | ||
| Net Assets | $ | 100,000 | ||
| Class A Shares | ||||
| Net Assets | $ | 33,334 | ||
| Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 3,333 | |||
| Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share | $ | 10.00 | ||
| Class I Shares | ||||
| Net Assets | $ | 33,333 | ||
| Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 3,333 | |||
| Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share | $ | 10.00 | ||
| Class D Shares | ||||
| Net Assets | $ | 33,333 | ||
| Shares of beneficial interest outstanding | 3,333 | |||
| Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share | $ | 10.00 | ||
See notes to financial statements.
2
MVP Private Markets Fund
Statement of Operations
One day ended to October 28, 2021
| Expenses | ||||
| Organizational Expenses (Note 3) | $ | 270,958 | ||
| Other | 1,703 | |||
| Total Expense | 272,661 | |||
| Less: Waived Expenses (Note 4) | 272,661 | |||
| Net Increase in net assets resulting from operations | $ | - | ||
See notes to financial statements.
3
MVP Private Markets Fund
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1—Organization and Registration
MVP Private Markets Fund (the “Fund”), a Delaware statutory trust, is a newly organized, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company, registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Fund’s investment adviser is Portfolio Advisors, LLC (the “Adviser”). The Fund is not a liquid investment. No Shareholder will have the right to require the Fund to redeem its Shares. The Fund from time to time may offer to repurchase Shares pursuant to written tenders by the Shareholders. The Adviser anticipates recommending to the Board that, under normal market circumstances, the Fund conduct repurchase offers of no more than 5% of the Fund’s net assets generally quarterly beginning on a date approximately 10 months from launch or such earlier or later date as the Board may determine and thereafter quarterly on or about each December 31, March 31, June 30 and September 30.
The Fund’s investment objective is to generate long-term capital appreciation by investing in a diversified portfolio of private market investments, with a focus on investments in mid-sized companies in the United States.
The Fund was organized as a statutory trust on April 21, 2021 under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Fund had no operations from that date through October 28, 2021 other than those relating to organizational matters and the registration of its shares under applicable securities laws. The Adviser purchased 3,333 of Class A, Class, Class I and class D shares of beneficial interest at an aggregate purchase price of $100,000, at a net asset value of $10.00 per share.
Note 2—Significant Accounting Policies
The Trust’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of American (“U.S. GAAP”) This requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statement. Actual results could differ from these estimates. The Trust is considered an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures, including contingent assets and liabilities, in the financial statements during the period reported. Management believes the estimates and security valuations are appropriate; however, actual results may differ from those estimates, and the security valuations reflected in the financial statements may differ from the value the Trust ultimately realizes upon sale of the securities.
Indemnification
The Fund indemnifies its officers and managers for certain liabilities that may arise from the performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties which provide general indemnities. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred. However, the Fund expects the risk of loss due to these warranties and indemnities to be remote.
4
Note 3—Organizational Expenses and Offering Costs
Organizational Expenses
Organizational expenses consist of costs incurred to establish the Fund and enable it legally to do business. Examples of these costs are legal fees and audit fees relating to the initial seed audit. These costs are expensed as incurred by the Fund and will be advanced by the Adviser subject to recoupment as described in Note 4.
Offering Costs
Offering costs incurred by the Fund are treated as deferred charges until operations commence and thereafter will be amortized over a 12 month period using the straight line method. Examples of these costs are registration fees, legal fees, and fees relating to the initial registration statement. All costs incurred by the Fund in connection with its offering will be advanced by the Adviser subject to recoupment as described in Note 4.
The Fund will incur organizational expenses and offering costs through the launch date of the Fund. At this time, management estimates that additional organizational expenses and offering costs incurred will be between $350,000 and $400,000.
Note 4—Investment Advisory
The Investment Management Fee is equal to 1.25%, on an annualized basis, of the Fund’s Managed Investments at the end of each calendar month. “Managed Investments” means the total value of the Fund’s assets (including any assets attributable to money borrowed for investment purposes) plus any unfunded investment commitments (i.e., amounts committed to Fund Investments that have not yet been drawn for investment), minus the sum of the Fund’s accrued liabilities (other than money borrowed for investment purposes), minus cash and cash equivalents.
The Adviser, pursuant to an Expense Limitation Agreement (the “Agreement”) has contractually agreed to reduce its fees and/or absorb expenses of the Fund, at least until December 31, 2021, to ensure that Net Annual Operating Expenses (including offering and organizational expenses, but excluding taxes, extraordinary expenses, reorganization expenses, brokerage commissions, interest, other expenditures that are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of such Fund’s business will not exceed 2.00%, 1.00% and 2.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, respectively for Class A, Class, Class I and Class D Shares. The Adviser is permitted to recover, on a class-by-class basis, any fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed pursuant to the waiver agreement described above to the extent that the Fund’s expenses in later periods fall below the lesser of (i) the expense limitation in effect at the time the fees and/or expenses to be recovered were waived and/or reimbursed and (ii) the expense limitation in effect at the time the Adviser seeks to recover the fees or expenses. The Adviser will not be entitled to recover any such waived or reimbursed fees and expenses more than three years after the date on which the fees were waived or expenses were reimbursed. The Adviser may not terminate this waiver arrangement without the approval of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. As of October 28, 2021, the amount recoverable by the Adviser under the Agreement was $272,661.
Note 5 — Agreements
Distribution
ALPS Distributor, Inc., will serve as the Fund’s principal underwriter, within the meaning of the 1940 Act, and will act as the distributor of the Fund’s shares on a reasonable efforts basis, subject to various conditions.
Transfer Agency Fees and Expenses
DST Systems, Inc. ("DST"), will serve as the Transfer Agent to the Fund. Under the Transfer Agency Agreement, DST will be responsible for maintaining all shareholder records of the Fund.
5
Fund Administration and Accounting Fees and Expenses
ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“ALPS”) serves as administrator to the Funds. The Funds have agreed to pay expenses incurred in connection with their administrative activities. Pursuant to the Administration, Bookkeeping and Pricing Services Agreement, ALPS will provide operational services to the Funds including, but not limited to fund accounting and fund administration and generally assist in the Funds’ operations.
Custody Fees and Expenses
UMB Bank, N.A. serves as the custodian of the Fund and receives customary fees from the Fund for such services.
Note 6—Income Taxes
The Fund intends to qualify as a “regulated investment company” under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and, if so qualified, will not be liable for federal income taxes to the extent earnings are distributed to shareholders on a timely basis.
Note 7 — Subsequent Events
The Adviser has evaluated subsequent events through the date of issuance of the financial statements included herein. There have been no subsequent events that occurred during such period that would require disclosure or would be required to be recognized in the financial statements.
6
MVP Private Markets, L.P.
(A Delaware Limited Partnership)
Financial Statements
September 30, 2021
| Page(s) | |
| Independent Auditors’ Report | 1 |
| Financial Statements | |
| Schedule of Investments | 2-3 |
| Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Partners’ Capital | 4 |
| Statement of Operations | 5 |
| Statement of Changes in Partners’ Capital | 6 |
| Statement of Cash Flows | 7 |
| Financial Highlights | 8 |
| Notes to Financial Statements | 9-17 |
Independent Auditors’ Report
To the Partners
MVP Private Markets, L.P.
We have audited the accompanying financial statements of MVP Private Markets, L.P., which comprise the statements of assets, liabilities, and partners’ capital, including the schedule of investments, as of September 30, 2021 and the related statements of operations, changes in partners’ capital, financial highlights and cash flows for the period from May 13, 2021 (commencement of operations) to September 30, 2021, and the related notes to the financial statements.
Management’s Responsibility for the Financial Statements
Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; this includes the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
Auditor’s Responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement.
An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of the accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.
Opinion
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of MVP Private Markets, L.P. as of September 30, 2021, and the results of its operations, changes in its partners’ capital, its financial highlights and its cash flows for the period from May 13, 2021 (commencement of operations) to September 30, 2021 in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Chicago, Illinois
November 8, 2021
MVP Private Markets, L.P.
Schedule of Investments
September 30, 2021
| Partnership Investments (1) (4) | Domicile | Cost | Fair Value | Percentage of Total Partners' Capital | Acquisition Date | |||||||||||
| Secondary Investments in Funds Buyouts | ||||||||||||||||
| Thoma Bravo Fund XIII, L.P. (2) (3) | United States | $ | 20,525,787 | $ | 20,410,189 | 6.71 | % | September 30, 2021 | ||||||||
| Thoma Bravo Fund XII, L.P. (2) (3) | United States | 15,933,786 | 16,425,868 | 5.40 | % | September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners VIII, LP (2) | United States | 15,274,268 | 16,925,335 | 5.56 | % | September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Lightyear Fund IV, LP (2) | United States | 8,194,988 | 11,206,174 | 3.68 | % | September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Silver Lake Partners V, LP (2) | United States | 13,819,261 | 14,153,948 | 4.65 | % | September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||
| ABRY Partners IX, LP (2) | United States | 9,815,637 | 10,189,610 | 3.35 | % | September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Waud Capital Partners IV, L.P. (2) (3) | United States | 11,610,208 | 14,931,652 | 4.91 | % | September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||
| New Mountain Capital V, L.P. (2) (3) | United States | 13,294,169 | 14,250,384 | 4.68 | % | September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Quad-C Partners IX (2) | United States | 8,590,773 | 9,488,751 | 3.12 | % | September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Berkshire Fund IX, LP (2) | United States | 12,423,104 | 13,026,752 | 4.28 | % | September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Wind Point Partners VIII, LP (2) | United States | 5,362,503 | 9,815,709 | 3.23 | % | September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||
| HGGC Fund III (2) | United States | 7,519,815 | 10,687,924 | 3.51 | % | September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Odyssey Investment Partners V, LP (2) (3) | United States | 11,838,517 | 9,862,188 | 3.24 | % | September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Linden Capital Partners IV, L.P. (2) (3) | United States | 6,366,389 | 7,343,101 | 2.41 | % | September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||
| HGGC Fund II (2) | United States | 5,276,857 | 7,677,364 | 2.52 | % | September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Charlesbank Equity Fund IX, L.P. (2) (3) | United States | 8,103,510 | 8,140,476 | 2.67 | % | September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||
| New Mountain IV (2) (3) | United States | 6,623,232 | 7,631,152 | 2.51 | % | September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||
| StepStone Capital Partners IV, L.P. | United States | 2,367,141 | 2,801,057 | 0.92 | % | September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Icon Partners III, L.P. | United States | 3,747,604 | 3,703,704 | 1.22 | % | July 12, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Wind Point Investors AAV, LP | United States | 2,958,396 | 2,905,852 | 0.95 | % | July 8, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Icon Partners IV-B, L.P. | United States | 2,100,228 | 2,083,333 | 0.68 | % | July 12, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Total Buyouts | 191,746,173 | 213,660,522 | 70.20 | % | ||||||||||||
| Growth & Venture | ||||||||||||||||
| Insight Venture Partners IX, LP (2) | United States | 28,260,489 | 33,200,714 | 10.91 | % | September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Battery Ventures XII, L.P. (2) (3) | United States | 11,496,120 | 13,631,517 | 4.48 | % | September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Battery Ventures XII Side Fund, L.P. (2) (3) | United States | 8,291,503 | 9,566,076 | 3.14 | % | September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Institutional Venture Partners XVI, LP (2) (3) | United States | 2,866,915 | 2,986,647 | 0.98 | % | September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Total Growth & Venture | 50,915,027 | 59,384,953 | 19.51 | % | ||||||||||||
| Special Situations | ||||||||||||||||
| Platinum Equity Capital Partners IV, LP (2) | United States | 11,347,116 | 13,196,921 | 4.34 | % | September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Total Special Situations | 11,347,116 | 13,196,921 | 4.34 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total Investment in Funds | 254,008,316 | 286,242,396 | 94.05 | % | ||||||||||||
The schedule of investments is continued on the next page.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
| 2 |
MVP Private Markets, L.P.
Schedule of Investments (Continued)
September 30, 2021
| Partnership Investments (1) (4) (Continued) | Domicile | Cost | Fair Value | Percentage of Total Partners' Capital | Acquisition Date | |||||||||||
| Direct Investments | ||||||||||||||||
| Business Services | ||||||||||||||||
| V-Sky Co-Investment Aggregator II LP | United States | $ | 5,007,539 | $ | 5,007,539 | 1.65 | % | September 2, 2021 | ||||||||
| Total Business Services | 5,007,539 | 5,007,539 | 1.65 | % | ||||||||||||
| Technology | ||||||||||||||||
| Biloxi Co-Investment Partners, L.P. | United States | 3,623,188 | 3,623,188 | 1.19 | % | August 11, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Total Technology | 3,623,188 | 3,623,188 | 1.19 | % | ||||||||||||
| Industrials | ||||||||||||||||
| Charger Investment Partners, L.P. | United States | 4,000,000 | 4,000,000 | 1.31 | % | September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Total Industrials | 4,000,000 | 4,000,000 | 1.31 | % | ||||||||||||
| Industrials | ||||||||||||||||
| MFG Partners Mellott Fund A LLC | United States | 3,000,000 | 3,000,000 | 0.99 | % | September 9, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Total Industrials | 3,000,000 | 3,000,000 | 0.99 | % | ||||||||||||
| Consumer | ||||||||||||||||
| Cynosure Partners 2020 Co-Investment LLC Series B | United States | 1,230,000 | 1,230,000 | 0.40 | % | September 8, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Total Consumer | 1,230,000 | 1,230,000 | 0.40 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total Direct Investments | 16,860,727 | 16,860,727 | 5.54 | % | ||||||||||||
| Total Partnership Investments | $ | 270,869,043 | $ | 303,103,123 | 99.59 | % | ||||||||||
| Other Assets in excess of liabilities | $ | 1,245,900 | ||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities and Partners' Capital | $ | 304,715,500 | ||||||||||||||
Notes
| 1 - | For all the partnership investments, redemptions are not permitted. |
| 2 - | The investments were contributed in-kind by a limited partner of the Partnership which is discussed in Footnote 5. |
| 3 - | Investments had a settlement date as of October 1, 2021. |
| 4 - | For all the partnership investments, share were not issued. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
| 3 |
MVP Private Markets, L.P.
Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Partners’ Capital
September 30, 2021
| Assets | ||||
| Investments in funds, at fair value (cost $254,008,316) | $ | 286,242,396 | ||
| Direct investments, at fair value (cost $16,860,727) | 16,860,727 | |||
| Cash | 1,612,373 | |||
| Subscription receivable | 4 | |||
| Total assets | $ | 304,715,500 | ||
| Liabilities and Partners' Capital | ||||
| Liabilities | ||||
| Accrued expenses | $ | 327,065 | ||
| Management fee payable | 39,412 | |||
| Total liabilities | 366,477 | |||
| Partners’ capital | ||||
| General partner | 3,172,437 | |||
| Limited partners | 301,176,586 | |||
| Total partners' capital | 304,349,023 | |||
| Total liabilities and partners' capital | $ | 304,715,500 | ||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
| 4 |
MVP Private Markets, L.P.
Statement of Operations
Period from May 13, 2021 (commencement of operations) to September 30, 2021
| Operating expenses | ||||
| Professional fees | $ | 423,224 | ||
| Management fees | 39,412 | |||
| Organizational fees | 45,184 | |||
| Other expense | 10,493 | |||
| Total operating expenses | 518,313 | |||
| Net investment loss | (518,313 | ) | ||
| Unrealized gain from partnership investments: | ||||
| Net change in unrealized appreciation from investments in funds | 32,234,080 | |||
| Unrealized gain from partnership investments | 32,234,080 | |||
| Net increase in partners' capital resulting from operations | $ | 31,715,767 | ||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
| 5 |
MVP Private Markets, L.P.
Statement of Changes in Partners’ Capital
Period from May 13, 2021 (commencement of operations) to September 30, 2021
| General Partner |
Limited Partners |
Total | ||||||||||
| Balance, May 13, 2021 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||
| Capital contributions | 779 | 272,632,477 | 272,633,256 | |||||||||
| Net increase in partners' capital resulting from operations | 91 | 31,715,676 | 31,715,767 | |||||||||
| Performance Allocation | 3,171,567 | (3,171,567 | ) | - | ||||||||
| Balance, September 30, 2021 | $ | 3,172,437 | $ | 301,176,586 | $ | 304,349,023 | ||||||
| Remaining capital commitment at September 30, 2021 | $ | 221 | $ | 77,367,523 | $ | 77,367,744 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
| 6 |
MVP Private Markets, L.P.
Statement of Cash Flows
Period from May 13, 2021 (commencement of operations) to September 30, 2021
| Cash flows from operating activities | ||||
| Net increase in partners' capital resulting from operations | $ | 31,715,767 | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net increase in partners' capital resulting from operations to net cash used in operating activities | ||||
| Contributions to investments in funds | (28,034,096 | ) | ||
| Net change in unrealized depreciation or depreciation from investments in funds | (32,234,080 | ) | ||
| Increase in operating liabilities: | ||||
| Accrued expenses | 327,065 | |||
| Management fee payable | 39,412 | |||
| Net cash used in operating activities | (28,185,932 | ) | ||
| Cash flows from financing activities | ||||
| Proceeds from capital contributions, net of subcription receivable | 29,798,305 | |||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | 29,798,305 | |||
| Net increase in cash | 1,612,373 | |||
| Cash | ||||
| Beginning of period | - | |||
| End of period | $ | 1,612,373 | ||
| Supplemental disclosure of non-cash information | ||||
| In-kind contribution of investment in funds | $ | 242,834,947 | ||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
| 7 |
MVP Private Markets, L.P.
Financial Highlights
Period from May 13, 2021 (commencement of operations) to September 30, 2021
| Total Return (not annualized) | 11.63 | % | ||
| Total Return after carried interest allocation (not annualized) | 10.47 | % | ||
| Ratios to average limited partners' capital: | ||||
| Expenses to average net assets ratio (1) (2) | 5.45 | % | ||
| Carried Interest allocation | 13.51 | % | ||
| Expenses to average net assets ratio after carried interest allocation | 18.96 | % | ||
| Net investment loss | (5.45 | %) | ||
| Portfolio Turnover Rate | 0.00 | % |
| (1) | Expense ratio does not include expenses of the Underlying Funds and Direct Investments. |
| (2) | Annualized with the exception of one time organizational fees. |
In computing the expense and net investment loss ratios, the weighted average net assets are measured at each quarter end and any other period when capital is contributed or withdrawn from the Partnership during the period. The net investment income (loss) ratio does not reflect the effects of any carried interest.
The information reflected above is calculated for the Limited Partners taken as a whole. An individual investor’s results may vary based on a variety of factors, including participation in certain investments, different fee arrangements and the timing of capital transactions.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
| 8 |
MVP Private Markets, L.P.
Notes to Financial Statements
September 30, 2021
| 1. | Organization and Business Purpose |
MVP Private Markets, L.P. (the “Partnership”), a Delaware limited partnership, was formed on March 15, 2021 and commenced operations on May 13, 2021, pursuant to a limited partnership agreement. As per the limited partnership agreement (the “Partnership Agreement”) dated March 15, 2021, the purpose of the Partnership is to achieve long-term returns through investment in a diversified portfolio of private equity limited partnership and direct investments (collectively, “Partnership Investments”). The intent is to transfer those Partnership Investments to a registered fund and will continue in existence until such time.
The general partner of the Partnership is MVP Private Markets GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “General Partner”). The Partnership is managed by Portfolio Advisors, LLC a Delaware limited liability company (the “Manager”). The Manager is registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment advisor under the Investment Advisors Act of 1940.
| 2. | Significant Accounting Policies |
Basis of Accounting
The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The Partnership is an investment company and follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. The financial statements are stated in U.S. dollars.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that may affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income, or increase in net assets from operations, and expenses during the reporting period. Actual amounts could differ from those estimates and such differences could be material.
Valuation of Partnership Investments
The Partnership makes investments in funds (“Underlying Funds”). The Underlying Funds make direct investments in equity securities of privately held companies. In addition, the Partnership also makes investments into private operating companies (“Direct Investments”). Thus, the Underlying Funds’ investments and Direct Investments are generally illiquid and provide no opportunity for redemption.
The Partnership follows the authoritative guidance under GAAP for estimating the fair value of investments in investment companies that have calculated a net asset value per share in accordance with the specialized accounting guidance for investment companies. Accordingly, the Partnership uses the net asset value (“NAV”) without further adjustment as a practical expedient to determine the fair value of Underlying Funds which (a) do not have a readily determinable fair value and (b) either have the attributes of an investment company or prepare their financial statements consistent with the measurement principles of an investment company. These values are reviewed and approved quarterly by the Manager during the preparation of the fund reporting documents. Investment transactions in Underlying Funds are recorded on the effective date of such transactions.
| 9 |
MVP Private Markets, L.P.
Notes to Financial Statements
September 30, 2021
Recognition of Profits and Losses
Changes in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) from each of the Underlying Funds are included in the statement of operations as net change in unrealized appreciation from investments in funds. The fair value of each Underlying Fund is increased or decreased by this amount.
The Partnership’s cost basis in the Underlying Funds is increased by contributions to the Underlying Funds and decreased by distributions received from the Underlying Funds. Any excess distributions received are classified as realized gains from investments in funds on the statement of operations.
Income and Expenses
Income is recognized on an accrual basis. Expenses consist of permitted expenses in accordance with the terms of the Partnership Agreement, and are charged to the Partnership on an accrual basis.
Income Taxes
The Partnership itself is not subject to U.S. Federal income taxes. In general, each Partner is individually liable for income taxes, if any, on its share of the Partnership’s net taxable income. The General Partner believes that, under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, the Partnership will be treated for federal income tax purposes as a partnership and not as an association taxable as a corporation. If, contrary to the General Partner’s belief, the Partnership becomes taxable as a corporation, the Partnership may incur a tax liability that has not been recorded. Interest, dividends and other income realized by the Partnership from non-U.S. sources and capital gains realized on the sale of securities of non-U.S. issuers may be subject to withholding and other taxes levied by the jurisdiction in which the income is sourced.
The Partnership follows the provisions of FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 740 (Income Taxes). ASC 740 prescribes recognition thresholds that must be met before a tax position is recognized in the financial statements. Under ASC 740, the General Partner is required to determine whether a tax position of the Partnership is more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. For tax positions meeting the more likely than not threshold, the tax amount recognized in the financial statements is reduced by the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant taxing authority.
The Partnership’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax issues as components of income tax expense. As no unrecognized tax liabilities were identified, the Partnership has accrued no interest or penalties as of September 30, 2021. The General Partner does not expect that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will materially change over the next twelve months.
The Partnership files tax returns as prescribed by the tax laws of the jurisdictions in which it operates. In the normal course of business, the Partnership is subject to examination by federal, state, local and foreign jurisdictions, where applicable. As of September 30, 2021, the tax years that remain subject to examination by the major tax jurisdictions under the statute of limitations is from the year 2021 forward.
Cash
Cash includes cash held on deposit in segregated accounts with one financial institution. At September 30, 2021, the cash balance of one of these financial institutions exceeded the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation limit by $1,362,373.
| 10 |
MVP Private Markets, L.P.
Notes to Financial Statements
September 30, 2021
| 3. | Fair Value Measurement |
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset (or paid to transfer a liability) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In accordance with GAAP, the Partnership does not categorize within the fair value hierarchy all investments measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient.
In accordance with the authoritative guidance on fair value measurements and disclosures under GAAP, the Partnership discloses the fair value of investments (other than those measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient) in a hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure the fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurement) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level 3 measurement). The guidance establishes three levels of the fair value hierarchy as follows:
| Level 1 | Inputs that reflect unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Partnership has the ability to access at the measurement date; |
| Level 2 | Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly, including inputs in markets that are not considered to be active; |
| Level 3 | Inputs that are unobservable. |
Inputs broadly refer to the assumptions that market participants use to make valuation decisions, including assumptions about risk. As described in Note 2, the General Partner uses the net asset value per share of the investment (or its equivalent) reported by the investee fund manager as the primary input to its valuation; however adjustments to the reported amount may be made based on various factors.
An investment’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. However, the determination of what constitutes “observable” requires significant judgment by the General Partner. The General Partner considers observable data to be that market data which is readily available, regularly distributed or updated, reliable and verifiable, not proprietary, and provided by multiple, independent sources that are actively involved in the relevant market. The categorization of an investment within the hierarchy is based upon the pricing transparency of that investment and does not necessarily correspond to the General Partner’s perceived risk of that investment.
Investments may include publicly held equity investments, generally obtained through the initial public offering of privately held equity investments. Publicly held investments that trade on an active exchange are marked-to-market at the quoted public value less adjustments for regulatory or contractual sales restrictions. Those with no or insignificant restrictions are classified in level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.
| 11 |
MVP Private Markets, L.P.
Notes to Financial Statements
September 30, 2021
Private Funds
Most private funds are structured as closed-end, commitment-based investment funds where the Partnership commits a specified amount of capital upon inception of the fund (i.e., committed capital) which is then drawn down over a specified period of the fund’s life. Such funds generally do not provide redemption options for investors and, subsequent to final closing, do not permit subscriptions by new or existing investors. Accordingly, the Partnership generally holds interests in such funds for which there is no active market, although, in some situations, a transaction may occur in the “secondary market” where an investor purchases a limited partner’s existing interest and remaining commitment.
Direct Investments
The Partnership values its Direct Investments usually based on one or more of the following methods:
• Comparable Trading Multiples (Primary method)
• Comparable Transaction Multiples (Considered when applicable and available)
• Income Approach (Considered when applicable and available)
Comparable Trading Multiples
The Investment Manager determines comparable public companies based on industry, size, developmental stage, strategy, etc., and then calculates a trading multiple for each comparable company identified by dividing the enterprise value of the comparable company by its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA). The trading multiple may then be discounted for considerations such as differences between the comparable companies and the subject company based on company specific facts and circumstances. The combined multiple is then applied to the subject company to calculate the value ofthe subject company.
Comparable Transaction Multiples
The Investment Manager applies comparable precedent transaction multiples where such multiples are available and appropriate. Where such comparable multiples are not available or are inappropriate generally, a comparable trading multiple or a discounted cash flow analysis is performed to estimate fair value. In some instances, the Investment Manager may deem the initial purchase price or cost as the most relevant market transaction and accordingly may value the investments based on such transaction price for the initial holding period of six months.
Income Approach
Investments valued using an income approach utilize a discounted cash flow analysis. Inputs include annual projected cash flows for each investment through their respective investment horizons and discount rates. These cash flow assumptions reflect the risks associated with achieving expected performance levels across various business scenarios.
Assumptions used by the General Partner due to the lack of observable inputs may significantly impact the resulting fair value and therefore the Partnership's results of operations.
The following table presents the investments carried on the statement of assets, liabilities and partners' capital by level within the valuation hierarchy as of September 30, 2021:
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MVP Private Markets, L.P.
Notes to Financial Statements
September 30, 2021
| Assets at Fair Value as of September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
Investments in Funds measured at NAV1 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 286,242,396 | ||||||||
| Direct Investments | - | - | 16,860,727 | 16,860,727 | ||||||||||||
| Total | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 16,860,727 | $ | 303,103,123 | ||||||||
| (1) | Partnership Investments that are measured at fair value using NAV as a practical expedient have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts presented in this table permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amount presented in the statement of assets, liabilities and partners’ capital. |
The unobservable input used by the Manager was the recent transactions in purchasing the investments. Due to the holding period being less than six months, the Manager determined that cost approximates fair value.
There were contributions of $16,860,727 and no distributions for Level 3 investments during the period from May 13, 2021 (commencement of operations) to September 30, 2021. During period from May 13, 2021 (commencement of operations) to September 30, 2021, there were no transfers in or out of Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
| 4. | Management Fee |
In accordance with the Partnership Agreement, the Manager receives a management fee (“Management Fee”) as compensation for its management services. The fee is payable quarterly in advance calculated at an annual rate equal to 1.25% of the Total Value of Investments as of the last day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter as a proxy and, once the Total Value of Investments as of the end of the current quarter is determined, the Management Fee shall be recalculated for the relevant quarter and a true-up performed. The Investment Manager may, in its sole discretion, waive or reduce the Management Fee for certain limited partners. The Partnership incurred net Management Fees for the period from May 13, 2021 (commencement of operations) to September 30, 2021 in the amount of $39,412. As of September 30, 2021, management fee payable was $39,412.
| 5. | Capital Contributions and Distributions |
The Partnership has capital commitments from its partners of $350,001,000 (the “Committed Capital”) of which the Limited Partners committed $350,000,000 to the Partnership and the General Partner committed $1,000 to the Partnership. At September 30, 2021, approximately 78% has been called and $77,367,744 of this Committed Capital remains available to call for purposes of satisfying investments, management fees and expenses over the remaining life of the Partnership.
The partnership entered into an agreement with a Limited Partner on September 13, 2021 who made an in-kind contribution of assets in exchange for an interest in the Partnership. Those assets were contributed at their fair value as of March 31, 2021 and have a fair value of $274,748,450 at September 30, 2021.
Each Limited Partner’s Capital Commitment is payable in multiple installments. Capital Call Notices will be sent by the General Partner based upon the capital requirements of the Partnership Investments and operating expenses. Future Capital Call Notices will be payable by the Limited Partners on the demand of the General Partner and will be due upon ten business days’ notice from the General Partner.
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MVP Private Markets, L.P.
Notes to Financial Statements
September 30, 2021
Distributions to the Limited Partners will generally be made by the Partnership promptly after the Partnership has received distributions from the Partnership Investments, subject to the capital needs of the Partnership as determined by the General Partner in its sole discretion, including the retention of monies to enable the Partnership to satisfy future capital calls made by the Underlying Funds and to pay Partnership expenses. Since inception, no distributions have been made. The remaining distributions from the Partnership Investments have been used to fund capital calls from Underlying Funds or meet the operating needs of the Partnership.
A Limited Partner generally may not voluntarily withdraw any capital from the Partnership since the investments in the Partnership are illiquid.
| 6. | Allocation and Distribution of Partnership Profits and Losses |
The Partnership’s income, gain, loss, deductions and expenses are allocated among the partners in accordance with the terms of the Partnership Agreement. Net Profit or Net Loss, as defined in the Partnership Agreement shall be determined on the basis of accounting utilized by the Partnership in accordance with GAAP. Net Profits shall be allocated among the partners in a manner so as to conform as nearly as practicable to the related distributions that would be made to the partners during such fiscal year if the Partnership had distributed all of such Net Profits.
Subject to the Partnership’s capital needs, the General Partner will make distributions of Distributable Cash as soon as practicable after the Partnership has received distributions from Partnership Investments. The Partnership generally will distribute any Distributable Cash it receives from Partnership Investments as follows:
| (a) | First, 100% to each partner in proportion to its Capital Contributions until the cumulative amounts distributed to the partner pursuant to this paragraph equals the partner’s aggregated Funded Capital Contribution; |
| (b) | Second, 100% to each partner in proportion to its Capital Contributions until cumulative amounts distributed to such Partner pursuant to this paragraph provides the partner with an investment return of 8% per annum, on such partner’s aggregate unreturned Capital Contributions, calculated from the date of each Capital Contribution (the “Preferred Return”); |
| (c) | Third, 100% to the General Partner until the General Partner has received an amount equal to 10% of the cumulative amounts distributed to each partner pursuant to paragraph (b) and this paragraph; and |
| (d) | Thereafter, 90% to each limited partner and 10% to the General Partner. |
The General Partner may, in its sole discretion, reduce or waive the Performance Allocation in respect to any Limited Partner. For the period from May 13, 2021 (commencement of operations) to September 30, 2021, the Performance Allocation assuming hypothetical liquidation to the General Partner increased by $3,171,567. The ultimate allocation and distribution to the General Partner will be based upon actual timing and amount of distributions from sales of the Partnership’s investments.
| 7. | Commitments and Contingencies |
The Partnership has committed an aggregate of $245,217,221 to Partnership Investments of which $34,367,812 is unfunded as of September 30, 2021.
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MVP Private Markets, L.P.
Notes to Financial Statements
September 30, 2021
In the normal course of business the General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership, enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties and which provide general indemnifications. The Partnership’s maximum exposure under the arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Partnership that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the General Partner expects the risk of loss for the period from May 13, 2021 (commencement of operations) to September 30, 2021 to be remote.
| 8. | Underlying Fund Investments |
The Partnership shall not invest more than ten percent (10%) of the aggregate Capital Commitments as calculated at the Final Closing Date will be in any single Partnership Investment, provided, however, that the General Partner has the discretion to exceed this percentage limitation if it makes a good faith determination that such additional investment is in the best interests of the Partnership.
The Partnership’s proportional ownership of certain investments of the Underlying Funds may exceed 5% of partners’ capital. The Partnership evaluated the Underlying Funds, investments and approximate proportionate values assigned to the Partnership relating to such investments as of September 30, 2021 and no investments exceeded 5% of partners’ capital.
| 9. | Related Party Transactions |
For the period from May 13, 2021 (commencement of operations) to September 30, 2021, the Partnership had $518,313 of operating expenses of which $175,000 represent cost of internal legal as detailed more particularly in the fund documents. With respect to internal legal costs, referenced herein and in the fund documents, such costs relate to a fee paid or payable to the manager for the administrative services provided by Portfolio Advisors’ internal staff to Portfolio Advisors in relation to the Partnership. Portfolio Advisors is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.
| 10. | Risk |
The objective of the Partnership is to seek long term risk adjusted returns and capital appreciation, however, as was the case at the time the Partnership was formed, general market risk factors continue to exist, which could cause the Partnership to lose some or all of its invested capital. The General Partner has noted the following risks:
General Economic and Regulatory Risk
The Partnership’s investments may be impacted by changes caused by global and domestic market conditions and industry-specific economic and regulatory conditions.
Certain impacts from the COVID-19 outbreak may have a significant negative impact on the Partnership’s operations and performance. These circumstances may continue for an extended period of time, and may have an adverse impact on economic and market conditions. The ultimate economic fallout from the pandemic and the long-tern impact on economies, markets, industries and individual companies are not known. The extent of the impact to the financial performance and the operations of the Partnership will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted.
Concentration Risk
The Partnership investments may not reflect a balanced or fully diversified portfolio.
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MVP Private Markets, L.P.
Notes to Financial Statements
September 30, 2021
The Partnership participates in a limited number of portfolio investments and, as a consequence, the aggregate return of the Partnership may be materially and adversely affected by the unfavorable performance of a single portfolio investment.
Investee Risk
The Partnership’s investees are Partnership Investments which may invest in small companies which have limited business histories, product and service lines, market, financial resources and management depth.
Liquidity Risk
Due to the nature of the investments, the Partnership may not withdraw or redeem from certain portfolio funds until the end of the term of each respective portfolio fund or earlier, at the discretion of the general partner of such Partnership Investments.
Foreign Currency and Exchange Risks
To the extent that the Partnership directly or indirectly holds assets in local currencies, the Partnership will be exposed to a degree of currency risk which may adversely affect performance. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates may affect the value of securities in the portfolio.
In addition, the Partnership will incur costs in connection with conversions between various currencies. The Partnership will conduct its foreign currency exchange transactions in anticipation of funding investment commitments or receiving proceeds upon dispositions, but ordinarily will not attempt to hedge currency risks.
Foreign currency assets and liabilities are translated at foreign exchange rates in effect at the reporting date. Foreign currency income and expenses are translated at the exchange rates prevailing as of the transaction date. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arising from changes in the fair value of investments in securities at the reporting date, are included with the net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments in funds.
| 11. | Significant Investors |
From time to time, the Partnership may have a concentration of investors holding a significant percentage of partners’ capital. Investment activities of these investors could have a material impact on the Partnership. At September 30, 2021, two investors held approximately eighty-five and fourteen percent of partners’ capital, respectively.
| 12. | Subsequent Events |
The Subsequent Events topic of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“Topic 855”), establishes general standards of accounting for and disclosures of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or are available to be issued.
On October 1, 2021, the partnership admitted new investors into the fund bringing the total committed capital to $404,995,000.
On October 12, 2021, a capital call notice was issued to equalize all the partners as well as request new capital in the amount of $31,112,994, due October 22, 2021, for new investments.
The Partnership has evaluated all subsequent transactions and events after the statement of assets, liabilities and partners’ capital date through November 8, 2021, the date on which the financial statements were available to be issued. There are no other subsequent events to report as it relates to the Partnership.
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APPENDIX B
PROXY POLICY AND PROCEDURES
B-1
MVP Private Markets Fund (the “Fund”)
Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures
The Fund has adopted a Proxy Voting Policy (the “Proxy Voting Policy”) used to determine how the Fund votes proxies relating to its portfolio securities. Under the Fund’s Proxy Voting Policy, the Fund has, subject to the oversight of the Fund’s Board, delegated to the Investment Adviser the following duties: (1) to make the proxy voting decisions for the Fund, subject to the exceptions described below; and (2) to assist the Fund in disclosing their respective proxy voting record as required by Rule 30b1-4 under the 1940 Act (the “Proxy Duties”).
The Fund’s CCO shall ensure that the Investment Adviser has adopted a Proxy Voting Policy, which it uses to vote proxies for its clients, including the Fund.
| A. | General |
The Fund believes that the voting of proxies is an important part of portfolio management as it represents an opportunity for shareholders to make their voices heard and to influence the direction of a company. The Fund is committed to voting corporate proxies in the manner that best serves the interests of the Fund’s shareholders.
| B. | Delegation to the Investment Advisers |
The Fund believes that the Investment Adviser is in the best position to make individual voting decisions for the Fund consistent with this Policy Voting Policy. Therefore, subject to the oversight of the Board, the Investment Adviser is hereby delegated the following duties:
| (1) | to make the proxy voting decisions for the Fund, in accordance with the Proxy Voting Policy of the Investment Adviser except as provided herein; and |
| (2) | to assist the Fund in disclosing their respective proxy voting record as required by Rule 30b1-4 under the 1940 Act, including providing the following information for each matter with respect to which the Fund is entitled to vote: (a) information identifying the matter voted on; (b) whether the matter was proposed by the issuer or by a security holder; (c) whether and how the Fund cast its vote; and (d) whether the Fund cast its vote for or against management. |
| (3) | Annually the Investment Adviser will provide to the Board a proxy voting report showing all proxies for the year. |
The Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees of the Board, must approve each Proxy Voting and Disclosure Policy of the Investment Adviser, (the “Investment Adviser Voting Policy”) as it relates to the Fund. The Board must also approve any material changes to the Investment Adviser Voting Policy no later than six (6) months after adoption by the Investment Adviser and Investment.
| C. | Conflicts |
In cases where a matter with respect to which the Fund was entitled to vote presents a conflict between the interest of the Fund’s shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the Investment Adviser or an affiliated person of the Fund, or its Investment Adviser, on the other hand, the Fund shall always vote in the best interest of the Fund’s shareholders. For purposes of this Proxy Voting Policy a vote shall be considered in the best interest of the Fund’s shareholders when a vote is cast consistent with the specific voting policy as set forth in the Investment Adviser Voting Policy, provided such specific voting policy was approved by the Board.
| D. | Preparation and Filing of Proxy Voting Record on Form N-PX |
The Fund will annually file its complete proxy voting record with the SEC on Form N-PX.
The Fund’s Administrator will be responsible for oversight and completion of the filing of the Fund’s reports on Form N-PX with the SEC. The Fund’s Administrator will file Form N-PX for each twelve-month period ended June 30 and the filing for each year will be made with the SEC on or before August 31 of that year.
Adopted:
PART C:
OTHER INFORMATION
MVP Private Markets Fund (the “Registrant”)
Item 25. Financial Statements and Exhibits
| (1) | Financial Statements: |
Financial Statements are included as an appendix to the Statement of Additional Information filed herewith.
| (2) | Exhibits |
| (a)(1) | Declaration of Trust is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(1) to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (Reg. 811-23656) as previously filed on April 21, 2021. |
| (a)(2) | Certificate of Trust is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(2) to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (Reg. 811-23656) as previously filed on April 21, 2021. |
| (b) | By-Laws of the Registrant are filed herewith. |
| (c) | Not applicable. |
| (d) | Refer to Exhibit (a)(1), (b) |
| (e) | Not applicable. |
| (f) | Not applicable. |
| (g) | Form of Investment Management Agreement is filed herewith. |
| (h)(1) | Form of Distribution Agreement is filed herewith. |
| (h)(2) | Form of Distribution and Service Plan is filed herewith. |
| (i) | Not applicable. |
| (j) | Form of Custody Agreement is filed herewith. |
| (k)(1) | Form of Administration, Fund Accounting and Recordkeeping Agreement is filed herewith. |
| (k)(2) | Form of Expense Limitation and Reimbursement Agreement is filed herewith. |
| (l) | Opinion and Consent of Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP is filed herewith. |
| (m) | Not applicable. |
| (n) | Consent of Cohen & Company, Ltd. is filed herewith. |
| (o) | Not applicable. |
| (p) | Not applicable. |
| (q) | Not applicable. |
| (r)(1) | Code of Ethics of Registrant is filed herewith. |
| (r)(2) | Code of Ethics of Portfolio Advisors, LLC is filed herewith. | |
| (s) | Powers of Attorney are filed herewith. |
Item 26. Marketing Arrangements
Not applicable.
Item 27. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution of Securities Being Registered
All figures are estimates:
| Registration fees | $60,000 |
| Legal fees | $380,000 |
| Printing fees | $39,000 |
| Blue Sky fees | $10,000 |
| Transfer Agent fees | $161,000 |
| Total | $590,060 |
Item 28. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control With Registrant
Not applicable.
Item 29. Number of Holders of Securities
| Title of Class | Number of Shareholders* | |
| Shares | 0 |
| * | As of November 12, 2021. |
Item 30. Indemnification
Sections 8.1-8.4 of Article VIII of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust states:
Section 8.1 Limitation of Liability. Neither a Trustee nor an officer of the Trust, when acting in such capacity, shall be personally liable to any person other than the Trust or a beneficial owner for any act, omission or obligation of the Trust, any Trustee or any officer of the Trust. Neither a Trustee nor an officer of the Trust shall be liable for any act or omission in his capacity as Trustee or as an officer of the Trust, or for any act or omission of any other officer or any employee of the Trust or of any other person or party, provided that nothing contained herein or in the Act shall protect any Trustee or officer against any liability to the Trust or to Shareholders to which he would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee or the duties of such officer hereunder.
Section 8.2 Indemnification. The Trust shall indemnify each of its Trustees, officers and persons who serve at the Trust’s request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor, or otherwise, and may indemnify any trustee, director or officer of a predecessor organization (each a “Covered Person”), against all liabilities and expenses (including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise, as fines and penalties, and expenses including reasonable accountants’ and counsel fees) reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative, regulatory, or legislative body, in which he may be involved or with which he may be threatened, while as a Covered Person or thereafter, by reason of being or having been such a Covered Person, except that no Covered Person shall be indemnified against any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders to which such Covered Person would otherwise be subject by reason of bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office (such willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard being referred to herein as “Disabling Conduct”). Expenses, including accountants’ and counsel fees so incurred by any such Covered Person (but excluding amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines or penalties), may be paid from time to time by the Trust in advance of the final disposition of any such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of (a) an undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person to repay amounts so paid to the Trust if it is ultimately determined that indemnification of such expenses is not authorized under this Article VIII and (b) any of (i) such Covered Person provides security for such undertaking, (ii) the Trust is insured against losses arising by reason of such payment, or (iii) a majority of a quorum of disinterested, non-party Trustees, or independent legal counsel in a written opinion, determines, based on a review of readily available facts, that there is reason to believe that such Covered Person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.
Section 8.3 Indemnification Determinations. Indemnification of a Covered Person pursuant to Section 8.2 shall be made if (a) the court or body before whom the proceeding is brought determines, in a final decision on the merits, that such Covered Person was not liable by reason of Disabling Conduct or (b) in the absence of such a determination, a majority of a quorum of disinterested, non-party Trustees or independent legal counsel in a written opinion make a reasonable determination, based upon a review of the facts, that such Covered Person was not liable by reason of Disabling Conduct.
Section 8.4 Indemnification Not Exclusive. The right of indemnification provided by this Article VIII shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any such Covered Person may be entitled. As used in this Article VIII, “Covered Person” shall include such person’s heirs, executors and administrators, and a “disinterested, non-party Trustee” is a Trustee who is neither an Interested Person of the Trust nor a party to the proceeding in question.
Additionally, the Registrant’s various agreements with its service providers contain indemnification provisions.
Item 31. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser
Information as to the directors and officers of the Registrant’s investment adviser, Portfolio Advisors, LLC (the “Adviser”), together with information as to any other business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature in which the Adviser, and each director, executive officer, managing member or partner of the Adviser, is or has been, at any time during the past two fiscal years, engaged in for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, managing member, partner or trustee, is included in its Form ADV as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 32. Location of Accounts and Records
All accounts, books, and other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules promulgated thereunder are maintained at the offices of the Adviser and/or the Registrant’s counsel. The address of each is as follows:
| 1. |
Portfolio Advisors, LLC 9 Old Kings Highway South Darien, Connecticut 06820 |
| 2. | Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP One Logan Square, Ste. 2000 Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996 | |
| 3. | ALPS Fund Services, Inc. 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000 Denver, CO 80203 |
Item 33. Management Services
Not applicable.
Item 34. Undertakings
| 1. | Not applicable. |
| 2. | Not applicable. |
| 3. | The Registrant undertakes (a) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement: |
(1) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”);
(2) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(3) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
(b) that for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of those securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;
(c) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering;
(d) that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
(1) if the Registrant is relying on Rule 430B [17 CFR 230.430B]:
(A) Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (x), or (xi) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or
(2) if the Registrant is subject to Rule 430C [17 CFR 230.430C]: each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.
(e) that for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of securities:
The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to the purchaser:
(1) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act;
(2) free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrants;
(3) the portion of any other free writing prospectus or advertisement pursuant to Rule 482 under the Securities Act relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and
(4) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.
4. The Registrant undertakes:
(a) for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the Registrant under Rule 424(b)(1) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective; and
(b) for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of the securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
5. Not applicable.
6. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
7. The Registrant undertakes to send by first class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery, within two business days of receipt of a written or oral request, any Statement of Additional Information.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Darien in the State of Connecticut on the 12th day of November, 2021.
| MVP Private Markets Fund | |||
| By: | /s/ Scott Higbee | ||
| Name: Scott Higbee | |||
| Title: President | |||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| /s/ Scott Higbee | President | November 12, 2021 | ||
| Scott Higbee | ||||
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| /s/ Daniel Iamiceli | Treasurer | November 12, 2021 | ||
| Daniel Iamiceli | ||||
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| /s/ Brooks Lindberg | Trustee | November 12, 2021 | ||
| Brooks Lindberg | ||||
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| /s/ Kent Misener* | Trustee | November 12, 2021 | ||
| Kent Misener | ||||
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| /s/ Taylor Nadauld* | Trustee | November 12, 2021 | ||
| Taylor Nadauld |
| *By: | /s/ Scott Higbee | |
| Scott Higbee | ||
| Attorney-in-Fact | ||
| (pursuant to power of attorney) | ||
Exhibit Index
MVP Private Markets Fund
BY-LAWS
These By-laws (the “By-laws”) of the MVP Private Markets Fund (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, are subject to the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated April 21, 2021, as from time to time amended, supplemented or restated (the “Trust Instrument”). Capitalized terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Instrument are used as therein defined.
Article
I
OFFICES
Section 1.1 Delaware Office. The registered office of the Trust in Delaware and the name and address of its resident agent for service of process shall be as set forth in the Certificate of Trust of the Trust, as filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on April 7, 2021, and as may be amended and restated from time to time.
Section 1.2 Principal Office. The principal office of the Trust shall be located in such location as the Trustees may from time to time determine. The Trust may establish and maintain such other offices and places of business as the Trustees may from time to time determine.
Article
II
OFFICERS AND THEIR ELECTION
Section 2.1 Officers. The officers of the Trust shall be a President, a Treasurer, a Secretary, a Chief Compliance Officer and such other officers as the Trustees may from time to time elect. It shall not be necessary for any Trustee or other officer to be a holder of Shares in the Trust.
Section 2.2 Election of Officers. Two or more offices may be held by a single person. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.3 hereof, the officers shall hold office until their successors are chosen and qualified and serve at the pleasure of the Trustees.
Section 2.3 Resignations. Any officer of the Trust may resign by filing a written resignation with the President, the Secretary or the Trustees, which resignation shall take effect on being so filed or at such later time as may be therein specified.
Article
III
POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES
Section 3.1 Chief Executive Officer. Unless the Trustees have designated the Chairman as the chief executive officer of the Trust, the President shall be the chief executive officer of the Trust and shall preside at all meetings of the Shareholders.
Section 3.2 Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be the principal financial and accounting officer of the Trust. He or she shall deliver all funds and securities of the Trust which may come into his or her hands to such company as the Trustees shall employ as Custodian in accordance with the Trust Instrument and applicable provisions of law. He or she shall make annual reports regarding the business and condition of the Trust, which reports shall be preserved in Trust records, and he or she shall furnish such other reports regarding the business and condition of the Trust as the Trustees may from time to time require. The Treasurer shall perform such additional duties as the Trustees or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time designate.
Section 3.3 Secretary. The Secretary shall record in books kept for the purpose all votes and proceedings of the Trustees and the Shareholders at their respective meetings. He or she shall have the custody of the seal of the Trust. The Secretary shall perform such additional duties as the Trustees or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time designate.
Section 3.4 Chief Compliance Officer. The Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) of the Trust shall be responsible for administering the Trust’s policies and procedures adopted pursuant to Rule 38a-1(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, or any successor provision thereto. The CCO shall have such other powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred upon or assigned to him or her by the Trustees.
Section 3.5 Additional Officers. The Trustees from time to time may appoint such other officers or agents as they may deem advisable, each of whom shall have such title, hold office for such period, have such authority and perform such duties as the Trustees may determine.
Section 3.6 Removal. Any officer may be removed from office at any time by the Trustees.
Section 3.7 Remuneration. The salaries or other compensation, if any, of the officers of the Trust shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Trustees.
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Article
IV
SHAREHOLDERS’ MEETINGS
Section 4.1 Notices. Notices of any meeting of the Shareholders shall be given by the Secretary by delivering or mailing, postage prepaid, to each Shareholder entitled to vote at said meeting, written or printed notification of such meeting at least seven (7) days before the meeting, to such address as may be registered with the Trust by the Shareholder. Notice of any Shareholder meeting need not be given to any Shareholder if a written waiver of notice, executed before or after such meeting, is filed with the record of such meeting, or to any Shareholder who shall attend such meeting in person or by proxy. Notice of adjournment of a Shareholders’ meeting to another time or place need not be given, if such time and place are announced at the meeting or reasonable notice is given to persons present at the meeting.
Section 4.2 Voting-Proxies. Subject to the provisions of the Trust Instrument, Shareholders entitled to vote may vote either in person or by proxy, provided that either (i) an instrument authorizing such proxy to act is executed by the Shareholder in writing and dated not more than eleven (11) months before the meeting, unless the instrument specifically provides for a longer period or (ii) an electronic, telephonic, computerized or other alternative to execution of a written instrument authorizing the proxy to act, which authorization is received not more than eleven (11) months before the meeting. Proxies shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Trust or other person responsible for recording the proceedings before being voted. A proxy with respect to Shares held in the name of two or more persons shall be valid if executed by one of them unless at or prior to exercise of such proxy the Trust receives a specific written notice to the contrary from any one of them. If any Shareholder is a minor or a person of unsound mind, and subject to guardianship or to the legal control of another person as regards the control or management of such Shareholder’s shares, such Shareholder’s shares may be voted by such guardian or such other person appointed or having control, and such vote may be given in person or by proxy. Unless otherwise specifically limited by their terms, proxies shall entitle the holder thereof to vote at any adjournment of a meeting. A proxy purporting to be exercised by or on behalf of a Shareholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger. At all meetings of the Shareholders, unless the voting is conducted by inspectors, all questions relating to the qualifications of voters, the validity of proxies, and the acceptance or rejection of votes shall be decided by the Chairman of the meeting. Except as otherwise provided herein or in the Trust Instrument, all matters relating to the giving, voting or validity of proxies shall be governed by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware relating to proxies, and judicial interpretations thereunder, as if the Trust were a Delaware corporation and the Shareholders were shareholders of a Delaware corporation.
Section 4.3 Broker Non-Votes. At any meeting of Shareholders, the Trust will consider broker non-votes as present for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the meeting. Broker non-votes will not count as votes cast.
Section 4.4 Place of Meeting. All meetings of the Shareholders shall be held at such places as the Trustees may designate. In the absence of any such designation, Shareholders’ meetings shall be held at the principal office of the Trust at the time of such meetings. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if either the President or Secretary of the Trust, or in the absence or unavailability of the President and the Secretary, any officer of the Trust, determines that the date, time or place designated for a meeting or adjourned meeting of Shareholders is not reasonably practicable or available as a result of (a) fire, flood, elements of nature, or other acts of god, (b) acts of terrorism, (c) outbreak or escalation of hostilities, war, riots or civil disorders or (d) other similar events, such officer may, without further notice to Shareholders, designate such other date, time or place for such meeting or adjourned meeting as such officer shall, in his or her sole discretion, determine.
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Article
V
SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
Section 5.1 Share Certificate. No certificates certifying the ownership of Shares shall be issued except as the Trustees may otherwise authorize. The Trustees may issue certificates to a Shareholder for any purpose and the issuance of a certificate to one or more Shareholders shall not require the issuance of certificates generally. In the event that the Trustees authorize the issuance of Share certificates, such certificate shall be in the form prescribed from time to time by the Trustees and shall be signed by the President and by the Treasurer or Secretary. Such signatures may be facsimiles if the certificate is signed by a transfer or shareholder services agent or by a registrar, other than a Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust. In case any officer who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed on such certificate shall have ceased to be such officer before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Trust with the same effect as if he or she were such officer at the time of its issue.
Section 5.2 Loss of Certificate. In case of the alleged loss or destruction or the mutilation of a Share certificate, a duplicate certificate may be issued in place thereof, upon such terms as the Trustees may prescribe.
Section 5.3 Discontinuance of Issuance of Certificates. The Trustees may at any time discontinue the issuance of Share certificates and may, by written notice to each Shareholder, require the surrender of Share certificates to the Trust for cancellation. Such surrender and cancellation shall not affect the ownership of Shares in the Trust.
Article
VI
INSPECTION OF BOOKS
The Trustees shall from time to time determine whether and to what extent, and at what times and places, and under what conditions and regulations the accounts and books of the Trust or any of them shall be open to the inspection of the Shareholders; and no Shareholder shall have any right to inspect any account or book or document of the Trust except as conferred by law or otherwise by the Trustees.
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Article VII
JURISDICTION AND FORUM
Each Trustee, each officer, each Shareholder and each person beneficially owning an interest in a Share of the Trust (whether through a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing or otherwise), to the fullest extent permitted by law, including Section 3804(e) of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (12 Del. C. § 3801 et seq.) (the “Act”), (i) irrevocably agrees that any claims, suits, actions or proceedings arising out of or relating in any way to the Trust, the Act, the Trust Instrument or these By-Laws or asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs (or similar) doctrine (including, without limitation, any claims, suits, actions or proceedings to interpret, apply or enforce (A) the provisions of the Trust Instrument or these By-Laws, or (B) the duties (including fiduciary duties), obligations or liabilities of the Trust to the Shareholders or the Trustees, or of officers or the Trustees to the Trust, to the Shareholders or each other, or (C) the rights or powers of, or restrictions on, the Trust, the officers, the Trustees or the Shareholders, or (D) any provision of the Act or other laws of the State of Delaware pertaining to trusts made applicable to the Trust pursuant to Section 3809 of the Act, or (E) any other instrument, document, agreement or certificate contemplated by any provision of the Act, the Trust Instrument or the By-Laws relating in any way to the Trust (regardless, in each case, of whether such claims, suits, actions or proceedings (x) sound in contract, tort, fraud or otherwise, (y) are based on common law, statutory, equitable, legal or other grounds, or (z) are derivative or direct claims)), shall be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction thereof, any other court in the State of Delaware with subject matter jurisdiction, (ii) irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in connection with any such claim, suit, action or proceeding, (iii) irrevocably agrees not to, and waives any right to, assert in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding that (A) it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of such courts or any other court to which proceedings in such courts may be appealed, (B) such claim, suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, or (C) the venue of such claim, suit, action or proceeding is improper, (iv) expressly waives any requirement for the posting of a bond by a party bringing such claim, suit, action or proceeding, (v) consents to process being served in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding by mailing, certified mail, return receipt requested, a copy thereof to such party at the address in effect for notices hereunder, and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof; provided, nothing in clause (v) hereof shall affect or limit any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law, and (vi) irrevocably waives any and all right to trial by jury in any such claim, suit, action or proceeding. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any Shares of any Class shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this provision.
If any provision or provisions of this Article VII shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article VII (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article VII containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable), and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances, shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
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ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
These By-laws may be amended from time to time by the Trustees.
ARTICLE
IX
HEADINGS
Headings are placed in these By-laws for convenience of reference only and, in case of any conflict, the text of these By-laws rather than the headings shall control.
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INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
MVP Private Markets Fund
AGREEMENT made this day of , 2021, by and between MVP Private Markets Fund, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Fund”), and Portfolio Advisors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Adviser”).
WHEREAS, the Fund is a closed-end, management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and
WHEREAS, the Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act”) and is engaged in the business of supplying investment advice as an independent contractor; and
WHEREAS, the Fund desires to retain the Adviser to render investment management services with respect to the Fund and the Adviser is willing to render such services:
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT AND ACCEPTANCE.
(a) The Fund hereby appoints the Adviser to act as Adviser to the Fund for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. The Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish the services herein set forth for the compensation herein provided.
(b) In rendering services under this Agreement, the Adviser shall have regard to (i) the provisions of the 1940 Act, any rules or regulations thereunder, and other provisions of Federal or state law, which the Fund’s counsel has informed the Adviser are applicable to the Fund; (ii) the provisions of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Fund, as amended from time to time (the “Declaration of Trust”); (iii) policies and determinations of the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”); (iv) the fundamental policies and investment restrictions of the Fund as reflected in its registration statement on Form N-2 relating to the offering of the Fund’s shares, including all exhibits thereto (the “Registration Statement”), as such policies may, from time to time, be amended; and (v) the prospectus and Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) of the Fund in effect from time to time.
(c) The Adviser will, at its own expense, render the services and provide the office space, furnishings and equipment, and personnel (including any sub-advisers) required by it to perform the services on the terms and for the compensation provided herein. The Adviser will not, however, pay for the cost of securities, commodities, and other investments (including brokerage commissions and other transaction charges, if any) purchased or sold for the Fund.
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2. DUTIES OF ADVISER.
(a) The Fund employs the Adviser to furnish and manage a continuous investment program for the Fund. The Adviser hereby undertakes and agrees, upon the terms and conditions herein set forth and subject to the supervision of the Board, either directly or indirectly through one or more sub-advisers to: (i) develop, implement and supervise the investment program of the Fund and the composition of its portfolio; (ii) determine the timing and amount of commitments, investments and/or disposals to be made by the Fund, the securities and other investments to be purchased or sold by the Fund in connection therewith, including investments in the securities of registered or unregistered investment companies or other vehicles (“Portfolio Funds”) which are managed by other investment managers; and (iii) arrange, subject to the provisions of Section 3 hereof, for the purchase of securities and other investments for the Fund and the sale or redemption of securities and other investments held in the portfolio of the Fund.
(b) The securities and other investments purchased or sold by the Fund in connection with the foregoing may include, but are not limited to, shares of capital stock, limited partnership interests, limited liability company interests, warrants, options, bonds, notes, debentures, loans and other securities and equity or debt interests and derivatives thereof of whatever kind, whether or not publicly traded or readily marketable and whether directly or indirectly held.
(c) The Adviser may, subject to the provisions of Section 3 hereof, obtain investment information, research or assistance from any other person, firm or corporation to supplement, update or otherwise improve its investment management services.
(d) The Adviser may hire (subject to the approval of the Fund’s Board and, except as otherwise permitted under the terms of any applicable exemptive relief obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission, or by rule or regulation, a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund) and thereafter supervise the investment activities of one or more sub-advisers deemed necessary to carry out the investment program of the Fund. The retention of a sub-adviser by the Adviser shall not relieve the Adviser of its responsibilities under this Agreement.
(e) The Adviser shall discharge the foregoing responsibilities subject to the control of the Fund’s Board and in compliance with such policies as the Board may from time to time establish, with the objectives, policies, and limitations for the Fund set forth in the Fund's registration statement as amended from time to time, and with applicable laws and regulations.
3. BROKERAGE COMMISSIONS. While not expected to be a primary part of the Fund’s investment strategy, to the extent applicable, the Adviser is authorized to select brokers and/or dealers to execute certain purchases and sales of portfolio securities for the Fund and, to the extent that public securities are involved, is directed to use its best efforts to obtain “best execution,” considering the Fund’s investment objectives, policies, and restrictions as stated in the Fund’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, as the same may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and resolutions of the Fund’s Board. The Adviser will promptly communicate to the officers and the Board such information relating to portfolio transactions as they may reasonably request.
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It is understood that the Adviser will not be deemed to have acted unlawfully, or to have breached a fiduciary duty to the Fund or be in breach of any obligation owing to the Fund under this Agreement, or otherwise, by reason of its having directed a securities transaction on behalf of the Fund to a broker-dealer in compliance with the provisions of Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or as described from time to time by the Fund’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
4. COMPENSATION OF THE ADVISER.
(a) Investment Management Fee. For the services provided and the expenses assumed pursuant to this Agreement, the Fund shall pay to the Adviser compensation at a quarterly rate of 0.3125% (1.25%, on an annualized basis), of the Fund’s Managed Investments at the end of each calendar quarter. “Managed Investments” means the total value of the Fund’s assets (including any assets attributable to money borrowed for investment purposes) plus any unfunded investment commitments (i.e., amounts committed to Fund Investments that have not yet been drawn for investment), minus the sum of the Fund’s accrued liabilities (other than money borrowed for investment purposes), minus cash and cash equivalents. The Investment Management Fee will be computed as of the last day of each calendar quarter and will be due and payable in arrears within fifteen business days after the end of such calendar quarter. Compensation will be paid to the Adviser before giving effect to any repurchase of beneficial interests in the Fund effective as of that date. The Adviser may, in its discretion and from time to time, waive all or a portion of its fee.
(b) Incentive Fee. The Fund will also pay to the Adviser an incentive fee (the “Incentive Fee”) calculated and payable quarterly in arrears equal to 10% of the excess, if any, of (i) the net profits of the Fund for the relevant period over (ii) the then balance, if any, of the Loss Recovery Account (as defined below). For purposes of the Incentive Fee, the term “net profits” shall mean the amount by which the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund on the last day of the relevant period exceeds the NAV of the Fund as of the commencement of the same period, including any net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation of investments and realized income and gains or losses and expenses (which, for this purpose shall not include any distribution and/or shareholder servicing fees, litigation, any extraordinary expenses or Incentive Fee and any amount contributed to or withdrawn from the Fund by shareholders). The Fund shall maintain a memorandum account (the “Loss Recovery Account”), which will have an initial balance of zero and will be (i) increased upon the close of each calendar quarter of the Fund by the amount of the net losses of the Fund for the quarter, and (ii) decreased (but not below zero) upon the close of each calendar quarter by the amount of the net profits of the Fund for the quarter.
(c) All rights of compensation under this Agreement for services performed as of the termination date shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
5. BOOKS AND RECORDS. The Adviser will maintain or cause to be maintained all books and records with respect to the securities transactions of the Fund and will furnish to the Fund’s Board or cause to be furnished such periodic and special reports as the Board may reasonably request. The Fund and the Adviser agree to furnish to each other, if applicable, current registration statements, proxy statements, reports to shareholders, certified copies of their financial statements, and such other information with regard to their affairs as each may reasonably request.
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Any records required to be maintained and preserved pursuant to the provisions of Rule 31a-1 and Rule 31a-2 promulgated under the 1940 Act which are prepared or maintained by the Adviser on behalf of the Fund are the property of the Fund and will be provided promptly to the Fund on request.
6. STATUS OF ADVISER. The services of the Adviser to the Fund are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Adviser shall be free to render similar services to others so long as its services to the Fund are not impaired thereby. The Adviser shall be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, unless otherwise expressly provided or authorized, have no authority to act for or represent the Fund in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Fund.
7. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION OF ADVISER.
(a) In the absence of willful misfeasance or gross negligence of its obligations to the Fund as determined by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction in a final judgement, neither the Adviser, any partner, director, officer or employee of the Adviser, nor any of their respective affiliates, executors, heirs, assigns, successors or other legal representatives, will be liable for any error of judgment, mistake of law or for any act or omission by the person in connection with the performance of services to the Fund, except as may otherwise be provided under provisions of applicable state law or Federal securities law which cannot be waived or modified hereby.
(b) The Fund shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Adviser, or any partner, director, officer or employee of the Adviser, and any of their affiliates, executors, heirs, assigns, successors or other legal representatives, against any liability or expense to which the person may be liable that arises in connection with the performance of services to the Fund, so long as the liability or expense is not incurred by reason of the person’s willful misfeasance or gross negligence of its obligations to the Fund as determined by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction in a final judgement. The rights of indemnification provided under this Section shall not be construed so as to provide for indemnification of any aforementioned persons for any losses (including any liability under Federal securities laws which, under certain circumstances, impose liability even on persons that act in good faith) to the extent (but only to the extent) that such indemnification would be in violation of applicable law, but shall be construed so as to effectuate the applicable provisions of this Section to the fullest extent permitted by law.
8. PERMISSIBLE INTERESTS. Trustees, agents, and interest holders of the Fund are or may be interested in the Adviser (or any successor thereof) as members, managers, officers, or interest holders, or otherwise; members, managers, officers, agents, and interest holders of the Adviser are or may be interested in the Fund as Trustees, interest holders or otherwise; and the Adviser (or any successor) is or may be interested in the Fund as an interest holder or otherwise. In addition, brokerage transactions for the Fund may be effected through affiliates of the Adviser if approved by the Fund’s Board, subject to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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9. AUTHORITY; NO CONFLICT. The Adviser represents, warrants and agrees that: it has the authority to enter into and perform the services contemplated by this Agreement; and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement do not, and will not, conflict with, or result in any violation or default under, any agreement to which Adviser or any of its affiliates are a party.
10. DURATION AND TERMINATION. This Agreement, unless sooner terminated as provided herein, shall remain in effect until December 31, 2023 for an initial two-year term and thereafter, may continue in effect from year to year provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (a) by the vote of a majority of those Trustees of the Board who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any party to this Agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (b) by a vote of a majority of the Fund’s Board or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund; provided, however, that if the interest holders of the Fund fail to approve the Agreement as provided herein, the Adviser may continue to serve hereunder in the manner and to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and rules and regulations thereunder. The foregoing requirement that continuance of this Agreement be “specifically approved at least annually” shall be construed in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated as to the Fund at any time, without the payment of any penalty by vote of a majority of members of the Fund’s Board or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund on sixty (60) days written notice to the Adviser, or by the Adviser at any time without the payment of any penalty, on sixty (60) days written notice to the Fund. This Agreement will automatically and immediately terminate in the event of its assignment. Any notice under this Agreement shall be given in writing, addressed and delivered, or mailed postpaid, to the other party at any office of such party.
As used in this Section 11, the terms “assignment”, “interested persons”, and a “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” shall have the respective meanings set forth in the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; subject to such exemptions as may be granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission under said Act.
12. NOTICE. Any notice required or permitted to be given by either party to the other shall be deemed sufficient if sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed by the party giving notice to the other party at the last address furnished by the other party to the party giving notice; provided that in each instances a copy is contemporaneously also sent via e- mail to the addresses below:
If to the Adviser:
Attn: Brian Murphy
Portfolio Advisors, LLC
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9 Old Kings Highway South
Darien, CT 06820
Telephone: 203 662 3459
Email: bmurphy@portad.com
with required copies to:
Jesse Eisenberg
Portfolio Advisors, LLC
9 Old Kings Highway South
Darien, CT 06820
Telephone: 203 662 8695
jeisenberg@portad.com; legal@portad.com
and
Joshua Deringer
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
One Logan Square, Suite 2000
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Telephone: 215 988 2959
Email: joshua.deringer@faegredrinker.com
If to the Fund:
Attention: Brooks Lindberg
MVP Private Markets Fund
c/o Portfolio Advisors, LLC
9 Old Kings Highway South
Darien, CT 06820
Telephone: 203 662 3453
blindberg@portad.com; mvpprivatemarkets@portad.com
with required copies to:
Jesse Eisenberg
Portfolio Advisors, LLC
9 Old Kings Highway South
Darien, CT 06820
Telephone: 203 662 8695
jeisenberg@portad.com; legal@portad.com
and
Joshua Deringer
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
| 233 |
One Logan Square, Suite 2000
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Telephone: 215 988 2959
Email: joshua.deringer@faegredrinker.com
13. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
14. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to conflict of law or choice of law doctrines, and the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act. To the extent that the applicable laws of the State of Delaware, or any of the provisions herein, conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the latter shall control.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first written above.
| MVP PRIVATE MARKETS FUND | |
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| By: | |
| Title: |
| PORTFOLIO ADVISORS, LLC | |
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| By: | |
| Title: |
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DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made as of_________, 2021, between MVP Private Markets Fund, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Fund”), and ALPS Distributors, Inc., a Colorado corporation (“ALPS”).
WHEREAS, the Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company that is operated as a tender offer fund and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”);
WHEREAS, ALPS is registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”) and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”); and
WHEREAS, the Fund wishes to employ the services of ALPS in connection with the promotion and distribution of the shares of the Fund (the “Shares”).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and undertakings herein contained, the parties agree as follows.
| 1. | ALPS Appointment and Duties. |
| (a) | The Fund hereby appoints ALPS to provide the distribution services set forth in this Agreement on Appendix A, as amended from time to time, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth. ALPS hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish such specified services. ALPS shall for all purposes be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, except as otherwise expressly authorized in this Agreement, have no authority to act for or represent the Fund in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Fund. |
| (b) | ALPS may employ or associate itself with a person or persons or organizations as ALPS believes to be desirable in the performance of its duties hereunder; provided that, in such event, the compensation of such person or persons or organizations shall be paid by and be the sole responsibility of ALPS, and the Fund shall bear no cost or obligation with respect thereto; and provided further that ALPS shall not be relieved of any of its obligations under this Agreement in such event and shall be responsible for all acts of any such person or persons or organizations taken in furtherance of this Agreement to the same extent it would be for its own acts. |
| 2. | ALPS Compensation; Expenses. |
| (a) | ALPS shall not be entitled to compensation for services provided by ALPS under this Agreement. ALPS may receive compensation or reimbursement of expenses from the Fund’s investment adviser related to its services hereunder or for additional services as may be agreed upon by ALPS and the Fund’s investment adviser. |
| (b) | ALPS will bear all expenses in connection with the performance of its services under this Agreement, except as otherwise provided herein. ALPS will not bear any of the costs of Fund personnel. Other Fund expenses incurred shall be borne by the Fund or the Fund’s investment adviser, including, but not limited to, initial organization and offering expenses; the blue sky registration and qualification of Shares for sale in the various states in which the officers of the Fund shall determine it advisable to qualify such Shares for sale (including registering the Fund as a broker or dealer or any officer of the Fund as agent or salesman in any state); litigation expenses; taxes; costs of preferred shares; expenses of conducting repurchase offers for the purpose of repurchasing Fund shares; administration, transfer agency, and custodial expenses; interest; Fund trustees’ fees; brokerage fees and commissions; state and federal registration fees; advisory fees; insurance premiums; fidelity bond premiums; Fund and investment advisory related legal expenses; costs of maintenance of Fund existence; printing and delivery of materials in connection with meetings of the Fund’s trustees; printing and mailing of shareholder reports, prospectuses, statements of additional information, other offering documents and supplements, proxy materials, repurchase offer notifications and other communications to shareholders; securities pricing data and expenses in connection with electronic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). To the extent applicable, the Fund is responsible for all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by ALPS in connection with travel expenses to Board meetings. |
| 3. | Documents. The Fund has furnished or will furnish, upon request, ALPS with copies of the Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, By-Laws, advisory and sub-advisory agreements, custodian agreement, transfer agency agreement, administration agreement, current prospectus, statement of additional information, periodic Fund reports, and all forms relating to any plan, program or service offered by the Fund. The Fund shall furnish, within a reasonable time period, to ALPS a copy of any amendment or supplement to any of the above-mentioned documents. Upon request, the Fund shall furnish promptly to ALPS any additional documents necessary or advisable to perform its functions hereunder, including, but not limited to, each repurchase offer notification filed by the Fund with the SEC. As used in this Agreement the terms “registration statement,” “prospectus” and “statement of additional information” shall mean any registration statement, prospectus and statement of additional information filed by the Fund with the SEC and any amendments and supplements thereto that are filed with the SEC. |
| 4. | Sales of Shares. |
| (a) | The Fund grants to ALPS the right to sell the Shares as agent on behalf of the Fund, during the term of this Agreement, subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and of the laws governing the sale of securities in the various states (“Blue Sky Laws”), under the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. ALPS shall have the right to sell, as agent on behalf of the Fund, the Shares covered by the registration statement, prospectus and statement of additional information for the Fund then in effect under the 1933 Act and 1940 Act. |
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| (b) | The rights granted to ALPS shall be exclusive, except that the Fund reserves the right to sell Shares directly to investors on applications received and accepted by the Fund. |
| (c) | Except as otherwise noted in the Fund’s current prospectus and/or statement of additional information, all Shares sold to investors by ALPS or the Fund will be sold at the public offering price. The public offering price for all accepted subscriptions will be the net asset value per Share, as determined in the manner described in the Fund’s current prospectus and/or statement of additional information. |
| (d) | Repurchases of Shares of the Fund will be made at the net asset value per Share in accordance with the Fund’s applicable repurchase offer and then-current prospectus. If a fee in connection with any repurchase offer is in effect, such fee will be paid to the Fund. The net asset value of the Shares will be calculated by the Fund or by another entity on behalf of the Fund. ALPS has no duty to inquire into, or liability for, the accuracy of the net asset value per Share as calculated or the Fund’s compliance with any periodic repurchase offer in accordance with the 1940 Act and/or related policies adopted by the Fund. |
| (e) | The Fund reserves the right to suspend sales and ALPS’ authority to process orders for Shares on behalf of the Fund if, in the judgment of the Fund, it is in the best interests of the Fund to do so. Suspension will continue for such period as may be determined by the Fund. The Fund agrees to promptly notify ALPS in the event that the Fund determines not to issue a repurchase offer in accordance with the specified schedule set forth in the Fund’s then current prospectus. |
| (f) | In consideration of these rights granted to ALPS, ALPS agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to distribute the Shares. ALPS shall review and file Fund advertising materials with the SEC and/or FINRA to the extent required by the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, and by the rules of FINRA. This shall not prevent ALPS from entering into like arrangements (including arrangements involving the payment of underwriting commissions) with other issuers. ALPS will act only on its own behalf as principal should it choose to enter into selling agreements with selected dealers or others, to the extent applicable. |
| (g) | ALPS is not authorized by the Fund to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained in the registration statement or prospectus and statement of additional information, or contained in shareholder reports, repurchase offer notifications or other material that may be prepared by or on behalf of the Fund for ALPS’ use. Consistent with the foregoing, ALPS may prepare and distribute sales literature or other material as it may deem appropriate in consultation with the Fund, provided such sales literature complies with applicable laws and regulations. |
| (h) | The Fund agrees that it will take all action necessary to register the Shares under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act (subject to the necessary approval of its shareholders). The Fund shall make available to ALPS, at ALPS’ expense, such number of copies of its prospectus, statement of additional information, and periodic reports as ALPS may reasonably request. The Fund shall furnish to ALPS copies of all information, financial statements, repurchase offer notifications and other papers, which ALPS may reasonably request for use in connection with the distribution of Shares of the Fund. |
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| (i) | The Fund agrees to execute any and all documents and to furnish any and all information and otherwise to take all actions that may be reasonably necessary in connection with the qualification of the Shares for sale in such states as ALPS may designate. The Fund must notify ALPS in writing of the states in which the Shares may be sold and must notify ALPS in writing of any changes to the information contained in the previous notification. |
| (j) | The Fund shall not use the name of ALPS, or any of its affiliates, in any prospectus or statement of additional information, sales literature, and other material relating to the Fund in any manner without the prior written consent of ALPS (which shall not be unreasonably withheld); provided, however, that ALPS hereby approves all lawful uses of the names of ALPS and its affiliates in the prospectus and statement of additional information of the Fund and in all other materials which merely refer in accurate terms to its appointment hereunder or which are required by the SEC, FINRA or any state securities authority. |
| (k) | Neither ALPS nor any of its affiliates shall use the name of the Fund in any publicly disseminated materials, including sales literature, in any manner without the prior written consent of the Fund (which shall not be unreasonably withheld); provided, however, that the Fund hereby approves all lawful uses of its name in any required regulatory filings of ALPS which merely refer in accurate terms to the appointment of ALPS hereunder, or which are required by the SEC, FINRA or any state securities authority. |
| (l) | To the extent applicable, ALPS will promptly transmit any orders received by it for purchase, redemption, or exchange of the Shares to the Fund’s transfer agent. |
| (m) | To the extent applicable and only upon eligibility of, and written direction from, the Fund, ALPS will maintain membership with the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”) and any other similar successor organization to sponsor a participant number for the Fund in order to enable the Shares to be traded through FundSERV. ALPS will not be responsible for any operational matters associated with the settlement of Fund transactions through FundSERV or Networking. |
| (o) | To the extent applicable and only upon eligibility of, and direction from, the Fund, ALPS will enter into agreements with financial intermediaries (each an “Intermediary Agreement”) in connection with the sale of Fund shares. ALPS will not be obligated to make payments to any such financial intermediaries unless ALPS has received an authorized payment from such applicable Fund, if subject to a distribution plan or other such plan approved by the Fund’s board of trustees, and/or the applicable Fund’s investment adviser. |
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| 5. | Insurance. ALPS will maintain at its expense an errors and omissions insurance policy adequate to cover its distribution activities hereunder relating to the Fund. |
| 6. | Right to Receive Advice. |
| (a) | Advice of the Fund and Service Providers. If ALPS is in doubt as to any action it should or should not take, ALPS may request directions, advice, or instructions from the Fund or, as applicable, the Fund’s investment adviser, custodian, or other service providers. |
| (b) | Advice of Counsel. If ALPS is in doubt as to any question of law pertaining to any action it should or should not take, ALPS may request advice from counsel of its own choosing (who may be counsel for the Fund, the Fund’s investment adviser, or ALPS, at the option of ALPS). |
| (c) | Conflicting Advice. In the event of a conflict between directions, advice or instructions ALPS receives from the Fund or any service provider and the advice ALPS receives from counsel, ALPS may in its sole discretion rely upon and follow the advice of counsel. ALPS will provide the Fund with prior written notice of its intent to follow advice of counsel that is materially inconsistent with directions, advice or instructions from the Fund. Upon request, ALPS will provide the Fund with a copy of such advice of counsel. |
| 7. | Standard of Care; Limitation of Liability; Indemnification. |
| (a) | ALPS shall be obligated to act in good faith and to exercise commercially reasonable care and diligence in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. |
| (b) | Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary ALPS and each of its affiliates, members, shareholders, directors, officers, partners, employees, agents, successors or assigns (“ALPS Associates”) shall not be liable to the Fund for any action or inaction of any ALPS Associate except to the extent of direct Losses1 finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted solely from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or fraud of ALPS in the performance of ALPS’ duties, obligations, representations, warranties or indemnities under this Agreement or an Intermediary Agreement. Except with respect to all amounts payable by Fund as part of its indemnification obligations under this Section 7, in no event shall either Party be liable to the other Party for Losses that are indirect, special, incidental, consequential, punitive, exemplary or enhanced or that represent lost profits, opportunity costs or diminution of value. |
| 1 | As used in this Agreement, the term “Losses” means any and all compensatory, direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential, punitive, exemplary, enhanced or other damages, settlement payments, attorneys’ fees, costs, damages, charges, expenses, interest, applicable taxes or other losses of any kind. |
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| (c) | The Fund shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless ALPS Associates from and against Losses (including legal fees and costs to enforce this provision) that ALPS Associates suffer, incur, or pay as a result of any third-party claim arising out of the subject matter of or otherwise in any way related to this Agreement or an Intermediary Agreement (“Claims”), including but not limited to the following, except to the extent it is finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that such Losses resulted solely from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or fraud of ALPS Associates in the performance of ALPS’ duties or obligations under this Agreement: |
| (i) | all actions taken by ALPS or ALPS Associates that are necessary to provide the services under this Agreement and/or an Intermediary Agreement, or in reliance upon any instructions, information, or requests, whether oral, written or electronic, received from the Fund or its officers; or |
| (ii) | any Claims that the registration statement, prospectus, statement of additional information, shareholder report, sales literature and advertisements approved for use by the Fund and/or the Fund’s investment adviser or other information filed or made public by the Fund (as from time to time amended) include an untrue statement of a material fact or omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein (and in the case of the prospectus and statement of additional information, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, or any other statute, regulation, self-regulatory organization rule or applicable common law. |
| (d) | Any expenses (including legal fees and costs) incurred by ALPS Associates in defending or responding to any Claims (or in enforcing this provision) shall be paid by the Fund on a quarterly basis prior to the final disposition of such matter upon receipt by the Fund of an undertaking by ALPS to repay such amount if it shall be determined that an ALPS Associate is not entitled to be indemnified. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in this Section 7 or elsewhere in this Agreement shall constitute a waiver by the Fund of any of its legal rights available under U.S. federal securities laws or any other laws whose applicability is not permitted to be contractually waived. |
| 8. | Activities of ALPS. The services of ALPS under this Agreement are not to be deemed exclusive, and ALPS shall be free to render similar services to others. The Fund recognizes that from time to time directors, officers and employees of ALPS may serve as directors, officers and employees of other corporations or businesses (including other investment companies) and that such other corporations and businesses may include ALPS as part of their name and that ALPS or its affiliates may enter into distribution agreements or other agreements with such other corporations and businesses. |
| 9. | Accounts and Records. The accounts and records maintained by ALPS shall be the property of the Fund. ALPS shall prepare, maintain and preserve such accounts and records as required by the 1940 Act and other applicable securities laws, rules and regulations. ALPS shall surrender such accounts and records to the Fund, in the form in which such accounts and records have been maintained or preserved, promptly upon receipt of instructions from the Fund. The Fund shall have access to such accounts and records at all times during ALPS’ normal business hours. Upon the reasonable request of the Fund, copies of any such books and records shall be provided by ALPS to the Fund at the Fund’s expense. ALPS shall assist the Fund, the Fund’s independent auditors, or, upon approval of the Fund, any regulatory body, in any requested review of the Fund’s accounts and records, and reports by ALPS or its independent accountants concerning its accounting system and internal auditing controls will be open to such entities for audit or inspection upon reasonable request. ALPS shall have access to all electronic communications, including password access to the system storing the electronic communications, of registered representatives of ALPS that are associated with the Fund and are required to be maintained under Rule 17a-4 of the 1934 Act and applicable FINRA Rules. Electronic storage media maintained by the Fund will comply with Rule 17a-4 of the 1934 Act. |
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| 10. | Confidential and Proprietary Information. ALPS agrees that it will, on behalf of itself and its officers and employees, treat all transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and all records and information relative to the Fund and its current and former shareholders and other information germane thereto, as confidential and as proprietary information of the Fund and not to use, sell, transfer, or divulge such information or records to any person for any purpose other than performance of its duties hereunder, except after prior notification to and approval in writing from the Fund, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. Approval may not be withheld where ALPS may be exposed to civil, regulatory, or criminal proceedings for failure to comply, when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities, or when requested by the Fund. When requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities, ALPS shall use reasonable commercial efforts to request confidential treatment of such information. ALPS shall have in place and maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards reasonably designed to protect the security, confidentiality, and integrity of, and to prevent unauthorized access to or use of records and information relating to the Fund and its current and former shareholders. |
| 11. | Compliance with Rules and Regulations. ALPS shall comply (and to the extent ALPS takes or is required to take action on behalf of the Fund hereunder shall cause the Fund to comply) with all applicable requirements of the 1940 Act and other applicable laws, rules, regulations, orders and code of ethics, as well as all investment restrictions, policies and procedures adopted by the Fund of which ALPS has knowledge (it being understood that ALPS is deemed to have knowledge of all investment restrictions, policies or procedures set out in the Fund’s public filings or otherwise provided to ALPS). Except as set out in this Agreement, ALPS assumes no responsibility for such compliance by the Fund. ALPS shall maintain at all times a program reasonably designed to prevent violations of the federal securities laws (as defined in Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act) with respect to the services provided, and shall provide to the Fund a certification to such effect no less than annually or as otherwise reasonably requested by the Fund. ALPS shall make available its compliance personnel and shall provide at its own expense summaries and other relevant materials relating to such program as reasonably requested by the Fund. |
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| 12. | Representations and Warranties of ALPS. ALPS represents and warrants to the Fund that: |
| (a) | It is duly organized and existing as a corporation and in good standing under the laws of the State of Colorado. |
| (b) | It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Articles of Incorporation and By-laws to enter into and perform this Agreement. |
| (c) | All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement. |
| (d) | It has and will continue to have access to the necessary facilities, equipment and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement in accordance with industry standards. |
| (e) | ALPS has conducted a review of its supervisory controls system and has made available to the Fund the most current summary report of such review and any updates thereto. Every time ALPS conducts a review of its supervisory control system it will make available to the Fund for inspection a summary report of such review and any updates thereto. ALPS shall immediately notify the Fund of any changes in how it conducts its business that would materially change the results of its most recent review of its supervisory controls system and any other changes to ALPS’ business that would affect the business of the Fund or the Fund’s investment adviser. |
| 13. | Representations and Warranties of the Fund. The Fund represents and warrants to ALPS that: |
| (a) | It is a statutory trust duly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of Delaware and is registered with the SEC as a closed-end management investment company that is operated as an interval fund. |
| (b) | It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-laws to enter into and perform this Agreement. |
| (c) | The Board of Trustees of the Fund has duly authorized it to enter into and perform this Agreement. |
| (d) | The registration statement and each Fund's prospectus and statement of additional information: (i) have been prepared, and all sales literature and advertisements approved by the Fund and/or the Fund's investment adviser or other materials prepared by or on behalf of the Fund for ALPS' use ("Sales Materials") shall be prepared, in all material respects, in conformity with the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC (the "Rules and Regulations") and (ii) contain, and all Sales Materials shall contain, all statements required to be stated therein in accordance with the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and the Rules and Regulations. |
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| (e) | All statements of fact contained therein, or to be contained in all Sales Materials, are or will be true and correct in all material respects at the time indicated or the effective date, as the case may be, and none of the registration statement, any Fund's prospectus or statement of additional information, nor any Sales Materials shall include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the case of each Fund's prospectus and statement of additional information in light of the circumstances in which made, not misleading. The Fund shall, from time to time, file such amendment or amendments to the registration statement and each Fund's prospectus and statement of additional information as, in the light of future developments, shall, in the opinion of the Fund's counsel, be necessary in order to have the registration statement and each Fund's prospectus and statement of additional information at all times contain all material facts required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the case of each Fund's prospectus or statement of additional information in light of the circumstances in which made, not misleading. The Fund shall not file any amendment to the registration statement or a Fund's prospectus or statement of additional information without providing ALPS reasonable notice thereof in advance, provided that nothing in this Agreement shall in any way limit the Fund's right to file at any time such amendments to the registration statement or a Fund's prospectus or statement of additional information as the Fund may deem advisable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund shall not be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to any information or statement provided by ALPS for inclusion in the registration statement or any Fund's prospectus or statement of additional information. |
| 14. | Consultation Between the Parties. ALPS and the Fund shall regularly consult with each other regarding ALPS’ performance of its obligations under this Agreement. In connection therewith, the Fund shall submit to ALPS at a reasonable time in advance of filing with the SEC reasonably final copies of any amended or supplemented registration statement (including exhibits) under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and any repurchase offer notification; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Agreement shall in any way limit the Fund’s right to file at any time such amendments to any registration statement and/or supplements to any prospectus or statement of additional information, of whatever character, as the Fund may deem advisable, such right being in all respects absolute and unconditional. |
| 15. | Anti-Money Laundering. ALPS agrees to maintain an anti-money laundering program in compliance with Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (the “USA Patriot Act”) and all applicable laws and regulations promulgated thereunder. ALPS confirms that, as soon as possible, following the request from the Fund, ALPS will supply the Fund with copies of ALPS’ anti-money laundering policy and procedures, and such other relevant certifications and representations regarding such policy and procedures as the Fund may reasonably request from time to time. |
| 16. | Business Interruption Plan. ALPS shall maintain in effect a business interruption plan, and enter into any agreements necessary with appropriate parties making reasonable provisions for emergency use of electronic data processing equipment customary in the industry. In the event of equipment failures, ALPS shall, at no additional expense to the Fund, take commercially reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions. |
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| 17. | Duration and Termination of this Agreement. |
| (a) | Initial Term. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first written above (“Effective Date”) and shall continue thereafter throughout the period that ends two (2) years after the Effective Date (the “Initial Term”). |
| (b) | Renewal Term. If not sooner terminated, this Agreement shall renew at the end of the Initial Term and shall thereafter continue for successive annual periods, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (i) by the Fund’s Board of Trustees or (ii) by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the relevant portfolio of the Fund, provided that in either event the continuance is also approved by the majority of the Trustees of the Fund who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any party to this Agreement by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. If a plan under Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act is in effect, continuance of the plan and this Agreement must be approved at least annually by a majority of the Trustees of the Fund who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) and have no financial interest in the operation of such plan or in any agreements related to such plan, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. |
| (c) | This Agreement is terminable on sixty (60) days’ written notice by the Fund’s Board of Trustees, by vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the relevant portfolio of the Fund, or by ALPS. |
| (d) | Deliveries Upon Termination. Upon termination of this Agreement, ALPS agrees to cooperate in the orderly transfer of distribution duties and shall deliver to the Fund or as otherwise directed by the Fund (at the expense of the Fund) all records and other documents made or accumulated in the performance of its duties for the Fund hereunder. |
| 18. | Assignment. This Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act). This Agreement shall not be assignable by the Fund without the prior written consent of ALPS, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld by ALPS. |
| 19. | Governing Law. The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York and the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. To the extent that the laws of the State of New York conflict with the 1940 Act or such rules, the latter shall control. |
| 20. | Names. The obligations of the Fund entered into in the name or on behalf thereof by any director, shareholder, representative, or agent thereof are made not individually, but in such capacities, and are not binding upon any of the directors, shareholders, representatives or agents of the Fund personally, but bind only the property of the Fund, and all persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the property of the Fund for the enforcement of any claims against the Fund. |
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| 21. | Amendments to this Agreement. This Agreement may only be amended by the parties in writing. |
| 22. | Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing, shall be deemed to have been given when received or when sent by telex or facsimile, and shall be given to the following addresses (or such other addresses as to which notice is given). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no notice sent to either Party shall be deemed effective unless such notice or a copy thereof is sent by e-mail to the email addresses listed below: |
| To ALPS: | |
| ALPS Distributors, Inc. | |
| 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000 | |
| Denver, Colorado 80203 | |
| Attn: Steve Kyllo, SVP & Director | |
| E-Mail: steve.kyllo@sscinc.com | |
| To the Fund: | |
| MVP Private Markets Fund | |
| 9 Old Kings Highway South | |
| Darien, Connecticut 06820 | |
| Attn: Daniel Dwyer | |
| E-Mail: ddwyer@portad.com |
| 24. | Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which when so executed will be deemed to be an original. Such counterparts together will constitute one agreement. Signatures may be exchanged via electronic mail and shall be binding to the same extent as if original signatures were exchanged. |
| 25. | Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding among the parties and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that ALPS may embody in one or more separate documents its agreement, if any, with respect to delegated duties and oral instructions. |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
| MVP PRIVATE MARKETS FUND | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | |||
| Title: | |||
| ALPS DISTRIBUTORS, INC. | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | Steve Kyllo | ||
| Title: | SVP & Director | ||
APPENDIX A
SERVICES
| å | Act as legal underwriter/distributor |
| å | Maintain & supervise FINRA registrations for licensed individuals |
| o | Coordinate Continuing Education requirements |
| o | Administer & maintain required filings/licenses with FINRA |
| å | Provide investment company advertising and sales literature review, approval and record maintenance Online submission, review/approval, & real-time status updates through SS&C Advertising Review Portal |
| o | File required materials with FINRA |
| o | Provide advertising regulatory and disclosure guidance |
The following services shall only be provided to the extent applicable and eligible in light of the Fund’s structure and upon written direction from the Fund:
| å | Facilitate setup of an NSCC FundSERV Participant Number under ALPS Distributors Inc. specific for your fund family |
| å | Prepare, update, execute & maintain financial intermediary agreements |
| o | Online access provided through SS&C Portal |
| å | Administer intermediary due diligence program |
| o | Provide ongoing monitoring of financial intermediary relationships |
| o | Established risk ranking methodology & reporting |
| å | Support financial intermediary relations |
| o | Consult and support client’s distribution model & strategy |
| å | Fulfill key account intermediary initial and ongoing information and due diligence requests |
MVP PRIVATE MARKETS FUND
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN
for Class A Shares and Class D Shares
WHEREAS, MVP Private Markets Fund (the “Fund”) is engaged in business as a closed- end investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”);
WHEREAS, the Fund has issued three separate classes of shares of beneficial interests (the “Shares”) in the Fund known as Class A Shares, Class I Shares and Class D Shares;
WHEREAS, the board of trustees of the Fund (the “Trustees”) have determined that there is a reasonable likelihood that this Distribution and Service Plan (the “Plan”) will benefit the Fund and the holders of Shares of Class A Shares and Class D Shares;
WHEREAS, the Plan, together with any related agreements, has been approved by votes of the majority of both (i) the Trustees and (ii) the Independent Trustees (as defined herein), cast in person at a meeting of the Trustees called for the purpose of voting on this Plan and related agreements;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Fund hereby adopts this Plan in compliance with the terms of the exemptive application filed by the Fund with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on June 30, 2021 and approved by the SEC on August 18, 2021.
SECTION 1. The Fund has adopted this Plan to enable Class A Shares and Class D Shares to directly or indirectly bear the respective expenses relating to the distribution of Class A Shares and Class D Shares.
SECTION 2. The Fund will pay the distributor of the Fund and/or any Recipient (as defined below) a distribution fee of up to 1.00% on an annualized basis of the Fund’s net asset value attributable to Class A Shares in connection with the promotion and distribution of Class A Shares and the provision of personal services to holders of Class A Shares, including, but not limited to, advertising, compensation to agents, dealers and selling personnel, the printing and mailing of the prospectus to other than current holders of the Fund, and the printing and mailing of sales literature. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund may only expend up to 0.75% on an annualized basis of the Fund’s net assets attributable to Class A Shares for marketing and distribution expenses. The Fund or the distributor may pay all or a portion of these fees to any registered securities dealer, financial institution or any other person (each, a “Recipient”) who renders assistance in distributing or promoting the sale of Class A Shares, or who provides certain shareholder services, pursuant to a written agreement. The actual fee to be paid by the Fund to broker/dealers and financial institutions and intermediaries will be negotiated based on the extent and quality of services provided.
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SECTION 3. The Fund will pay the distributor of the Fund and/or any Recipient a distribution fee of up to 0.25% on an annualized basis of the Fund’s net asset value attributable to Class D Shares in connection with the promotion and distribution of Class D Shares and the provision of personal services to holders of Class D Shares, including, but not limited to, advertising, compensation to agents, dealers and selling personnel, the printing and mailing of the prospectus to other than current holders of the Fund, and the printing and mailing of sales literature. The Fund or the distributor may pay all or a portion of these fees to any Recipient who renders assistance in distributing or promoting the sale of Class D Shares, or who provides certain shareholder services, pursuant to a written agreement. The actual fee to be paid by the Fund to broker/dealers and financial institutions and intermediaries will be negotiated based on the extent and quality of services provided.
SECTION 4. This Plan shall not take effect as it relates to Class A Shares and Class D Shares, respectively, until it has been approved by a vote of at least a majority of the outstanding holders of the respective class of Shares of the Fund.
SECTION 5. This Plan shall continue in effect for a period of more than one year after it takes effect only for so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by votes of the majority of both (i) the Trustees and (ii) the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting of the Trustees called for the purpose of voting on this Plan.
SECTION 6. Any person authorized to direct the disposition of monies paid or payable by the Fund pursuant to this Plan or any related agreement shall provide to the Trustees, at least quarterly, a written report of the amounts so expended and the purposes for which such expenditures were made.
SECTION 7. This Plan may be terminated at any time, individually with respect to Class A Shares and Class D Shares, by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by vote of a majority of the respective outstanding Shares of such Class of the Fund.
SECTION 8. All agreements with any person relating to implementation of this Plan shall be in writing, and any agreement related to this Plan shall provide (a) that such agreement may be terminated at any time, without payment of any penalty, by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding related Shares of the Fund, on not more than 60 days written notice to any other party to the agreement; and (b) that such agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment.
SECTION 9. This Plan may be amended, individually with respect to Class R Share by votes of the majority of both (i) the Trustees and (ii) the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting of the Trustees called for the purpose of voting on such amendment; provided, however, that the Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of distribution expenses permitted pursuant to Section 2 hereof without the approval of a majority of the outstanding Class A Shares of the Fund and pursuant to Section 3 hereof without the approval of a majority of the outstanding Class D Shares of the Fund.
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SECTION 10. While this Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of those Trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund shall be committed to the discretion of the Trustees then in office who are not interested persons of the Fund.
SECTION 11. As used in this Plan, (a) the term “Independent Trustees” shall mean those Trustees who are not interested persons, and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of this Plan or any agreements related to it, and (b) the terms “assignment” and “interested person” shall have the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, subject to such exemptions as may be granted by the SEC.
SECTION 12. This Plan shall not obligate the Fund or any other party to enter into an agreement with any particular person.
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CUSTODY AGREEMENT
Dated_________, 2021
Between
UMB BANK, N.A.
and
MVP PRIVATE MARKETS FUND
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CUSTODY AGREEMENT
This agreement made as of the date first set forth above between UMB Bank, n.a., a national banking association with its principal place of business located in Kansas City, Missouri (hereinafter "Custodian") and MVP Private Markets Fund, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Fund").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as a closed-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“the 1940 Act”); and
WHEREAS, the Fund desires to appoint Custodian as its custodian for the custody of Assets (as hereinafter defined) owned by the Fund, which Assets are to be held in such accounts as the Fund may establish from time to time; and
WHEREAS, Custodian is willing to accept such appointment on the terms and conditions hereof.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained herein, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, mutually covenant and agree as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT OF CUSTODIAN.
The Fund hereby constitutes and appoints the Custodian as custodian of Assets belonging to the Fund which have been or may be from time to time delivered to and accepted by the Custodian.
Custodian accepts such appointment as a custodian and agrees to perform the duties and responsibilities of Custodian as set forth herein on the conditions set forth herein. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Assets” shall include Securities, monies, and other property held by the Custodian for the benefit of the Fund. “Security” or “Securities” shall mean stocks, bonds, rights, warrants, certificates, instruments, obligations and all other negotiable or non-negotiable paper commonly known as Securities which have been or may from time to time be delivered to and accepted by the Custodian. “Securities” shall also mean, for purposes of the Fund’s investments in underlying investment companies, the completed subscription agreements which may be in electronic form (or any document, however titled, containing factual information regarding the Fund and Fund representations and warranties necessary to make the investment, which shall be defined herein as a “Subscription Agreement”), pertaining to such underlying investment company. Custodian shall have no obligation to treat a Subscription Agreement as a Security until the Fund delivers such completed Subscription Agreement to the Custodian.
2. INSTRUCTIONS.
(a) An “Instruction,” as used herein, shall mean a request, direction, instruction or certification initiated by the Fund and conforming to the terms of this paragraph. An Instruction may be transmitted to the Custodian by any of the following means:
(i) a writing manually signed on behalf of a Fund by an Authorized Person (as hereinafter defined);
(ii) a telephonic or other oral communication from a person the Custodian reasonably believes to be an Authorized Person;
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(iii) a communication effected through the internet or web-based functionality (including without limitation, emails, data files and other communications) on behalf of the Fund (“Electronic Communication”); or
((iv) other means reasonably acceptable to both parties.
Instructions in the form of oral communications shall be confirmed by the Fund by either a writing (as set forth in (i) above), or an Electronic Communication (as set forth in (iv) above), but the lack of such confirmation shall in no way affect any action taken by the Custodian in reliance upon such oral Instructions prior to the Custodian’s receipt of such confirmation. The Fund authorizes the Custodian to record any and all telephonic or other oral Instructions communicated to the Custodian. The parties acknowledge and agree that with respect to Instructions transmitted by an Electronic Communication, the Custodian cannot verify that the Electronic Communication has been initiated by an Authorized Person; accordingly, the Custodian shall have no liability as a result of actions taken in reliance on unauthorized Electronic Communication Instructions. The Custodian recommends that any Instructions transmitted by the Fund via email be done so through a secure system or process.
(b) “Special Instructions,” as used herein, shall mean Instructions countersigned or confirmed in writing by the Chief Financial Officer or any other member of the Board of Directors of the Fund who is a Portfolio Advisors, LLC (“PA”) employee, or any other person designated in a written notice by the Chief Financial Officer of the Fund, which countersignature or confirmation shall be on the same instrument containing the Instructions or on a separate instrument relating thereto.
(c) Instructions and Special Instructions shall be delivered to the Custodian at the address and/or telephone number, or email address agreed upon from time to time by the Custodian and the Fund.
(d) Where appropriate, Instructions and Special Instructions shall be continuing Instructions and Special Instructions, as applicable.
(e) An Authorized Person shall be responsible for assuring the accuracy and completeness of Instructions. If the Custodian reasonably determines that an Instruction is unclear or incomplete, the Custodian may notify the Fund of such determination, in which case the Fund shall be responsible for delivering to the Custodian an amended Instruction. The Custodian shall have no obligation to take any action until the Fund re-delivers to the Custodian an Instruction that is clear and complete.
(f) The Fund shall be responsible for delivering to the Custodian Instructions or Special Instructions in a timely manner, after considering such factors as the involvement of subcustodians, brokers or agents in a transaction, time zone differences, reasonable industry standards, etc. The Custodian shall have no liability if the Fund delivers Instructions or Special Instructions to the Custodian after any deadline established by the Custodian, so long as any such deadline is communicated in advance to the Fund in writing (which may include an e-mail).
(g) By providing Instructions to acquire or hold Foreign Assets (as defined in Rule 17f-5(a)(2) under the 1940 Act), the Fund shall be deemed to have confirmed to the Custodian that the Fund has (i) considered and accepted responsibility for all Sovereign Risks and Country Risks (as hereinafter defined) associated with investing in a particular country or jurisdiction, and (ii) made all determinations and provided to shareholders and other investors all disclosures required of registered investment companies by the 1940 Act.
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3. DELIVERY OF CORPORATE AND OTHER DOCUMENTS.
Each of the parties to this Agreement represents that its execution does not violate any of the provisions of its respective charter, articles of incorporation, partnership agreement, declaration of trust, articles of association or bylaws, that all required corporate or organizational action to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement has been taken, and that the person signing this Agreement is authorized to bind such party.
The Fund agrees to provide the Custodian, upon request, documentation regarding the Fund, including, by way of example: certificates of incorporation or trust, by-laws, resolutions, registration statements, W-9s and other tax-related documentation, compliance policies and procedures and other compliance documents that are reasonably requested by the Custodian, etc.
In addition, the Fund has delivered or will promptly deliver to the Custodian, copies of the Resolution(s) of its Board of Directors or Trustees and all amendments or supplements thereto, properly certified or authenticated, designating certain officers or employees of the Fund who will have continuing authority to certify to the Custodian: (a) the names, titles, signatures and scope of authority of all persons authorized to give Instructions or any other notice, request, direction, instruction, certificate or instrument on behalf of the Fund, and (b) the names, titles and signatures of those persons authorized to countersign or confirm Special Instructions on behalf of the Fund (in both cases collectively, the "Authorized Persons" and individually, an "Authorized Person"). Such Resolutions and certificates may be accepted and relied upon by the Custodian as conclusive evidence of the facts set forth therein and shall be considered to be in full force and effect until delivery to the Custodian of a similar Resolution or certificate to the contrary; provided, however, that the Custodian may rely upon any written designation furnished by the Chief Financial Officer or other member of the Board of Directors of the Fund who is PA employee designating persons authorized to countersign or confirm Special Instructions (as provided in Section 2(b)). Upon delivery of a certificate which deletes or does not include the name(s) of a person previously authorized to give Instructions or to countersign or confirm Special Instructions, such person shall no longer be considered an Authorized Person authorized to give Instructions or to countersign or confirm Special Instructions. Unless the certificate specifically requires that the approval of anyone else will first have been obtained, the Custodian will be under no obligation to inquire into the right of the person giving such Instructions or Special Instructions to do so. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, no Instructions or Special Instructions received by the Custodian from a Fund will be deemed to authorize or permit any director, trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Fund to withdraw any of the Assets of the Fund upon the mere receipt of such authorization, Special Instructions or Instructions from such director, trustee, officer, employee or agent.
The Fund further agrees to promptly provide the Custodian completed Subscription Agreements and any other applicable documentation for the Fund’s investment in any underlying investment companies. Such investments will only be Securities, and therefore Assets of the Fund, upon receipt by the Custodian of completed Subscription Agreements for the Fund. The Fund undertakes to work with the Custodian to ensure that quarterly confirmations, and any documentation representing changes to the Fund’s holding in such investment (such as related to an “add-on” purchase), are provided to the Custodian as soon as practicably possible.
4. POWERS AND DUTIES OF CUSTODIAN AND DOMESTIC SUBCUSTODIAN.
Except for Assets held by any Foreign Subcustodian, Special Subcustodian or Eligible Securities Depository (each as hereinafter defined) appointed pursuant to Sections 5(b), (c), or (f) of this Agreement, the Custodian shall have and perform the powers and duties hereinafter set forth in this Section 4. For purposes of this Section 4 all references to powers and duties of the "Custodian" shall also refer to any Domestic Subcustodian appointed pursuant to Section 5(a).
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| (a) | Safekeeping. |
The Custodian will keep safely the Assets of the Fund which are delivered to and accepted by it from time to time. The Custodian shall promptly notify the Fund if it is unwilling or unable to accept custody of any asset of the Fund. The Custodian shall not be responsible for any property of the Fund held by the Fund and not delivered to the Custodian or for any pre-existing faults or defects in Assets that are delivered to the Custodian.
| (b) | Manner of Holding Securities. |
(1) The Custodian shall at all times hold Securities of the Fund either: (i) by physical possession of the share certificates, completed Subscription Agreements, or other instruments representing such Securities, in registered or bearer form; in the vault of the Custodian, Domestic Subcustodian, a Special Custodian, depository or agent of the Custodian; or in an account maintained by the Custodian or agent at a Securities System (as hereinafter defined); or (ii) in book-entry form by a Securities System in accordance with the provisions of sub-paragraph (3) below.
(2) The Custodian may hold registrable portfolio Securities which have been delivered to it in physical form, by registering the same in the name of the Fund or its nominee, or in the name of the Custodian or its nominee, for whose actions the Fund and Custodian, respectively, shall be fully responsible. Upon the receipt of Instructions, the Custodian shall hold such Securities in street certificate form, so called, with or without any indication of representative capacity. However, unless it receives Instructions to the contrary, the Custodian will register all such portfolio Securities in the name of the Custodian's authorized nominee. All such Securities shall be held in an account of the Custodian containing only assets of the Fund or only assets held by the Custodian for the benefit of customers, provided that the records of the Custodian shall indicate at all times the Fund or other customer for which such Securities are held in such accounts and the respective interests therein.
(3) The Custodian may deposit and/or maintain domestic Securities owned by the Fund in, and the Fund hereby approves use of: (a) The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation; (b) any other clearing agency registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which acts as a securities depository; and (c) a Federal Reserve Bank or other entity authorized to operate the federal book-entry system described in the regulations of the Department of the Treasury or book-entry systems operated pursuant to comparable regulations of other federal agencies. Upon the receipt of Special Instructions, the Custodian may deposit and/or maintain domestic Securities owned by the Fund in any other domestic clearing agency that may otherwise be authorized by the SEC to serve in the capacity of depository or clearing agent for the Securities or other assets of investment companies and that acts as a Securities depository. Each of the foregoing shall be referred to in this Agreement as a "Securities System", and all such Securities Systems shall be listed on the attached Appendix A. Use of a Securities System shall be in accordance with applicable Federal Reserve Board and SEC rules and regulations, if any, and subject to the following provisions:
(i) The Custodian may deposit the Securities directly or through one or more agents or Subcustodians which are also qualified to act as custodians for investment companies.
(ii) Securities held in a Securities System shall be subject to any agreements or rules effective between the Securities System and the Custodian or a Subcustodian, as the case may be.
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(iii) Any Securities deposited or maintained in a Securities System shall be held in an account ("Account") of the Custodian or a Subcustodian in the Securities System that includes only assets held by the Custodian or a Subcustodian as a custodian or otherwise for customers.
(iv) The books and records of the Custodian shall at all times identify those Securities belonging to the Fund which are maintained in a Securities System.
(v) The Custodian shall pay for Securities purchased for the account of the Fund only upon (a) receipt of advice from the Securities System that such Securities have been transferred to the Account of the Custodian in accordance with the rules of the Securities System, and (b) the making of an entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect such payment and transfer for the account of the Fund. The Custodian shall transfer Securities sold for the account of the Fund only upon (a) receipt of advice from the Securities System that payment for such Securities has been transferred to the Account of the Custodian in accordance with the rules of the Securities System, and (b) the making of an entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect such transfer and payment for the account of the Fund. Copies of all advices from the Securities System relating to transfers of Securities for the account of the Fund shall be maintained for the Fund by the Custodian. Such copies may be maintained by the Custodian in electronic form. The Custodian shall make available to the Fund or its agent on the next business day, by Electronic Communication, or other means reasonably acceptable to both parties, daily transaction activity that shall include each day’s transactions for the account of the Fund.
(vi) The Custodian shall, if requested by the Fund pursuant to Instructions, provide the Fund with reports obtained by the Custodian or any Subcustodian with respect to a Securities System's accounting system, internal accounting control and procedures for safeguarding Securities deposited in the Securities System.
(vii) The appointment and use of any agent or Securities System shall not relieve the Custodian of any of its duties hereunder.
(viii) The Custodian otherwise complies with the requirements of Rule 17f-4 under the
1940 Act.
| (c) | Free Delivery of Assets. |
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement and except as provided in Section 3 hereof, the Custodian, upon receipt of Special Instructions, will undertake to make free delivery of Assets, provided such Assets are on hand and available, in connection with the Fund's transactions and to transfer such Assets to such broker, dealer, Subcustodian, bank, agent, Securities System or otherwise as specified in such Special Instructions.
| (d) | Exchange of Securities. |
Upon receipt of Instructions, the Custodian will exchange Securities held by it for the Fund for other Securities or cash paid in connection with any reorganization, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, conversion, or similar event, and will deposit any such Securities in accordance with the terms of any reorganization or protective plan.
Unless otherwise directed by Instructions, the Custodian is authorized to exchange Securities held by it in temporary form for Securities in definitive form, to surrender Securities for transfer into a name or nominee name as permitted in Section 4(b)(2), to effect an exchange of shares in a stock split or when the par value of the stock is changed, to sell any fractional shares, and, upon receiving payment therefor, to surrender bonds or other Securities held by it at maturity or call.
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| (e) | Purchases of Assets. |
(1) Securities Purchases. In accordance with Instructions, the Custodian shall, with respect to a purchase of Securities, pay for such Securities out of monies held for the Fund's account for which the purchase was made, but only insofar as monies are available therein for such purpose, and receive the Securities so purchased. Unless the Custodian has received Special Instructions to the contrary, such payment will be made only upon delivery of such Securities to the Custodian, a clearing corporation of a national securities exchange of which the Custodian is a member, or a Securities System in accordance with the provisions of Section 4(b)(3) hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) in connection with a repurchase agreement, the Custodian may release funds to a Securities System prior to the receipt of advice from the Securities System that the Securities underlying such repurchase agreement have been transferred by book-entry into the Account maintained with such Securities System by the Custodian, provided that the Custodian's instructions to the Securities System require that the Securities System may make payment of such funds to the other party to the repurchase agreement only upon transfer by book-entry of the Securities underlying the repurchase agreement into such Account; (ii) in the case of options, Interest Bearing Deposits (as hereinafter defined), currency deposits and other deposits, and foreign exchange transactions, pursuant to Sections 4(g), 4(k), and 4(l) hereof, the Custodian may make payment therefor before receipt of an advice of transaction; and (iii) the Custodian may make payment for Securities or other Assets prior to delivery thereof in accordance with Instructions, applicable laws, generally accepted trade practices, or the terms of the instrument representing such Security or other Asset, including, but not limited to, Securities and other Assets as to which payment for the Security and receipt of the instrument evidencing the Security are under generally accepted trade practices or the terms of the instrument representing the Security expected to take place in different locations or through separate parties.
(2) Other Assets Purchased. Upon receipt of Instructions and except as otherwise provided herein, the Custodian shall pay for and receive other Assets for the account of the Fund as provided in Instructions.
| (f) | Sales of Assets. |
(1) Securities Sold. In accordance with Instructions, the Custodian shall, with respect to a sale, deliver or cause to be delivered the Securities thus designated as sold to the broker or other person specified in the Instructions relating to such sale. Unless the Custodian has received Special Instructions to the contrary, such delivery shall be made only upon receipt of payment therefor in the form of: (a) cash, certified check, bank cashier's check, bank credit, or bank wire transfer; (b) credit to the account of the Custodian with a clearing corporation of a national securities exchange of which the Custodian is a member; or (c) credit to the Account of the Custodian with a Securities System, in accordance with the provisions of Section 4(b)(3) hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Custodian may deliver Securities and other Assets prior to receipt of payment for such Securities in accordance with Instructions, applicable laws, generally accepted trade practices, or the terms of the instrument representing such Security or other Asset. For example, Securities held in physical form may be delivered and paid for in accordance with "street delivery custom" to a broker or its clearing agent, against delivery to the Custodian of a receipt for such Securities, provided that the Custodian shall have taken reasonable steps to ensure prompt collection of the payment for, or return of, such Securities by the broker or its clearing agent, and provided further that the Custodian shall not be responsible for the selection of or the failure or inability to perform of such broker or its clearing agent or for any related loss arising from delivery or custody of such Securities prior to receiving payment therefor.
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(2) Other Assets Sold. Upon receipt of Instructions and except as otherwise provided herein, the Custodian shall receive payment for and deliver other Assets for the account of the Fund as provided in Instructions.
| (g) | Options. |
(1) Upon receipt of Instructions relating to the purchase of an option or sale of a covered call option, the Custodian shall: (a) receive and retain Instructions or other documents, to the extent they are provided to the Custodian, evidencing the purchase or writing of the option by the Fund; (b) if the transaction involves the sale of a covered call option, deposit and maintain in a segregated account the Securities (either physically or by book-entry in a Securities System) subject to the covered call option written on behalf of the Fund; and (c) pay, release and/or transfer such Securities, cash or other Assets in accordance with any notices or other communications evidencing the expiration, termination or exercise of such options which are furnished to the Custodian by the Options Clearing Corporation (the "OCC"), the securities or options exchanges on which such options were traded, or such other organization as may be responsible for handling such option transactions.
(2) Upon receipt of Instructions relating to the sale of a naked option (including stock index and commodity options), the Custodian, the Fund and the broker-dealer shall enter into an agreement to comply with the rules of the OCC or of any registered national securities exchange or similar organizations(s). Pursuant to that agreement and the Fund's Instructions, the Custodian shall: (a) receive and retain Instructions or other documents, if any, evidencing the writing of the option; (b) deposit and maintain in a segregated account, Securities (either physically or by book-entry in a Securities System), cash and/or other Assets; and (c) pay, release and/or transfer such Securities, cash or other Assets in accordance with any such agreement and with any notices or other communications evidencing the expiration, termination or exercise of such option which are furnished to the Custodian by the OCC, the securities or options exchanges on which such options were traded, or such other organization as may be responsible for handling such option transactions. The Fund and the broker-dealer shall be responsible for determining the quality and quantity of assets held in any segregated account established in compliance with applicable margin maintenance requirements and the performance of other terms of any option contract.
| (h) | Segregated Accounts. |
Upon receipt of Instructions, the Custodian shall establish and maintain on its books a segregated account or accounts for and on behalf of the Fund, into which account or accounts may be transferred Assets of the Fund, including Securities maintained by the Custodian in a Securities System pursuant to Paragraph (b)(3) of this Section 4, said account or accounts to be maintained (i) for the purposes set forth in Sections 4(g) and 4(m) and (ii) for the purpose of compliance by the Fund with the procedures required by SEC Investment Company Act Release Number 10666 or any subsequent release or releases, or other published SEC guidance relating to the maintenance of segregated accounts by registered investment companies, or (iii) for such other purposes as may be set forth, from time to time, in Special Instructions. The Custodian shall not be responsible for the determination of the type or amount of Assets to be held in any segregated account referred to in this paragraph, or for compliance by the Fund with required procedures noted in (ii) above.
| (i) | Depositary Receipts. |
Upon receipt of Instructions, the Custodian shall surrender or cause to be surrendered Securities to the depository used for such Securities by an issuer of American Depositary Receipts or International Depositary Receipts (hereinafter referred to, collectively, as "ADRs"), against a written receipt therefor adequately describing such Securities and written evidence satisfactory to the organization surrendering the same that the depository has acknowledged receipt of instructions to issue ADRs with respect to such Securities in the name of the Custodian or a nominee of the Custodian, for delivery in accordance with such instructions.
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Upon receipt of Instructions, the Custodian shall surrender or cause to be surrendered ADRs to the issuer thereof, against a written receipt therefor adequately describing the ADRs surrendered and written evidence satisfactory to the organization surrendering the same that the issuer of the ADRs has acknowledged receipt of instructions to cause its depository to deliver the Securities underlying such ADRs in accordance with such instructions.
| (j) | Corporate Actions, Put Bonds, Called Bonds, Etc. |
Upon receipt of Instructions, the Custodian shall: (a) deliver warrants, puts, calls, rights or similar Securities to the issuer or trustee thereof (or to the agent of such issuer or trustee) for the purpose of exercise or sale, provided that the new Securities, cash or other Assets, if any, acquired as a result of such actions are to be delivered to the Custodian; and (b) deposit Securities upon invitations for tenders thereof, provided that the consideration for such Securities is to be paid or delivered to the Custodian, or the tendered Securities are to be returned to the Custodian.
Unless otherwise directed to the contrary in Instructions, the Custodian shall comply with the terms of all mandatory or compulsory exchanges, calls, tenders, redemptions, or similar rights of security ownership of which the Custodian receives notice through data services or publications to which it normally subscribes, and shall promptly notify the Fund of such action.
The Fund agrees that if it gives an Instruction for the performance of an act on the last permissible date of a period established by the Custodian or any optional offer or on the last permissible date for the performance of such act, the Fund shall hold the Custodian harmless from any adverse consequences in connection with acting upon or failing to act upon such Instructions except to the extent that any such adverse consequences arise out of or relate to the Custodian’s or its employees’ material breach of this Agreement, negligence, bad faith, fraud or willful misconduct, or the Custodian’s or its employees’ reckless disregard of its duties under this Agreement.
If a Fund wishes to receive periodic corporate action notices of exchanges, calls, tenders, redemptions and other similar notices pertaining to Securities and to provide Instructions with respect to such Securities via the internet, the Custodian and the Fund may enter into a Supplement to this Agreement whereby the Fund will be able to participate in the Custodian’s Electronic Corporate Action Notification Service.
| (k) | Interest Bearing Deposits. |
Upon receipt of Instructions directing the Custodian to purchase interest bearing fixed-term certificates of deposit or call deposits (hereinafter referred to, collectively, as "Interest Bearing Deposits") for the account of the Fund, the Custodian shall purchase such Interest Bearing Deposits with such banks or trust companies, including the Custodian, any Subcustodian or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Custodian (hereinafter referred to as "Banking Institutions"), and in such amounts as the Fund may direct pursuant to Instructions. Such Interest Bearing Deposits shall be denominated in U.S. dollars. Interest Bearing Deposits issued by the Custodian shall be in the name of the Fund. Interest Bearing Deposits issued by another Banking Institution may be in the name of the Fund or the Custodian or in the name of the Custodian for its customers generally. The responsibilities of the Custodian to the Fund for Interest Bearing Deposits issued by the Custodian shall be that of a U.S. bank for a similar deposit. With respect to Interest Bearing Deposits issued by any other Banking Institution, (a) the Custodian shall be responsible for the collection of income and the transmission of cash to and from such accounts; and (b) the Custodian shall have no duty with respect to the selection of the Banking Institution or for the failure of such Banking Institution to pay upon demand.
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| (l) | Foreign Exchange Transactions. |
(l) The Fund may appoint the Custodian as its agent in the execution of all currency exchange transactions. If requested, the Custodian agrees to provide exchange rate and U.S. Dollar information, in writing, or by other means agreeable to both parties, to the Fund.
(2) Upon receipt of Instructions, the Custodian shall settle foreign exchange contracts or options to purchase and sell foreign currencies for spot and future delivery on behalf of and for the account of a Fund with such currency brokers or Banking Institutions as the Fund may determine and direct pursuant to Instructions. If, in its Instructions, the Fund does not direct the Custodian to utilize a particular currency broker or Banking Institution, the Custodian is authorized to select such currency broker or Banking Institution as it deems appropriate to execute the Fund's foreign currency transaction. It is understood that all such transactions shall be undertaken by the Custodian as agent for the Fund.
(3) The Fund accepts full responsibility for its use of third party foreign exchange brokers and for execution of said foreign exchange contracts and understands that the Fund shall be responsible for any and all costs and interest charges which may be incurred as a result of the failure or delay of its third party broker to deliver foreign exchange. The Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability with respect to the selection of the currency brokers or Banking Institutions with which the Fund deals or the performance or non-performance of such brokers or Banking Institutions.
(4) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, upon receipt of Instructions the Custodian may, in connection with a foreign exchange contract, make free outgoing payments of cash in the form of U.S. Dollars or foreign currency prior to receipt of confirmation of such foreign exchange contract or confirmation that the countervalue currency completing such contract has been delivered or received.
| (m) | Pledges or Loans of Securities. |
(1) Upon receipt of Instructions from the Fund, the Custodian will release or cause to be released Securities held in custody to the pledgees designated in such Instructions by way of pledge or hypothecation to secure loans incurred by the Fund with various lenders including but not limited to UMB Bank, n.a.; provided, however, that the Securities shall be released only upon payment to the Custodian of the monies borrowed, except that in cases where additional collateral is required to secure existing borrowings, further Securities may be released or delivered, or caused to be released or delivered for that purpose upon receipt of Instructions. Upon receipt of Instructions, the Custodian will pay, but only from funds available for such purpose, any such loan upon re-delivery to it of the Securities pledged or hypothecated therefor and upon surrender of the note or notes evidencing such loan. In lieu of delivering collateral to a pledgee, the Custodian, on the receipt of Instructions, shall transfer the pledged Securities to a segregated account for the benefit of the pledgee.
(2) Upon receipt of Instructions, the Custodian will release securities to a securities lending agent appointed by the Fund and designated in such Instructions. The Custodian shall act upon Instructions from the Fund and/or such agent in order to effect securities lending transactions on behalf of the Fund. For its services in facilitating a Fund’s securities lending activities through such agent, the Custodian may receive from the agent a portion of the agent’s securities lending revenue or a fee directly from the Fund. The Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any losses arising in connection with the agent’s actions or omissions, including but not limited to the delivery of Securities prior to the receipt of collateral, in the absence of the Custodian’s or its employees’ material breach of this Agreement, gross negligence, bad faith, fraud, or willful misconduct or the Custodian’s or its employees’ reckless disregard of its duties under this Agreement .
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| (n) | Stock Dividends, Rights, Etc. |
The Custodian shall receive and collect all stock dividends, rights, and other items of like nature and, upon receipt of Instructions, take action with respect to the same as directed in such Instructions.
| (o) | Routine Dealings. |
The Custodian will, in general, attend to all routine and operational matters in accordance with industry standards in connection with the sale, exchange, substitution, purchase, transfer, or other dealings with Securities or other property of the Fund, except as may be otherwise provided in this Agreement or directed from time to time by Instructions from the Fund. The Custodian may also make payments to itself or others from the Assets for disbursements and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incidental to handling Securities or other similar items relating to its duties under this Agreement, provided that all such payments shall be accounted for to the Fund, provided that the Custodian shall provide the Fund prior notice of any such expenses that are material to the Fund.
| (p) | Collections. |
The Custodian shall (a) collect amounts due and payable to the Fund with respect to Securities and other Assets; (b) promptly credit to the account of the Fund all income and other payments relating to Securities and other Assets held by the Custodian hereunder upon Custodian's receipt of such income or payments or as otherwise agreed in writing by the Custodian and any particular Fund; (c) promptly endorse and deliver any instruments required to effect such collection; and (d) promptly execute ownership and other certificates, affidavits and other documents for all federal, state, local and foreign tax purposes in connection with receipt of income or other payments with respect to Securities and other Assets, or in connection with the transfer of such Securities or other Assets; provided, however, that with respect to Securities registered in so-called street name, or physical Securities with variable interest rates, the Custodian shall use its best efforts to collect amounts due and payable to the Fund. The Custodian shall notify the Fund as soon as reasonably practicable in writing if any amount payable with respect to portfolio Securities or other Assets is not received by the Custodian when due. The Custodian shall not be responsible for the collection of amounts due and payable with respect to Securities or other Assets that are in default.
Any advance credit of cash or Securities expected to be received shall be subject to actual collection and may, when the Custodian determines collection unlikely, be reversed by the Custodian.
| (q) | Dividends, Distributions and Redemptions. |
To enable the Fund to pay dividends or other distributions to shareholders of the Fund and to make payment to shareholders who have requested repurchase or redemption of their shares of the Fund (collectively, the "Shares"), the Custodian shall release cash or Securities insofar as available. In the case of cash, the Custodian shall, upon the receipt of Instructions, transfer such funds by check or wire transfer to any account at any bank or trust company designated by the Fund in such Instructions. In the case of Securities, the Custodian shall, upon the receipt of Special Instructions, make such transfer to any entity or account designated by the Fund in such Special Instructions.
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| (r) | Proceeds from Shares Sold. |
The Custodian shall receive funds representing cash payments received for shares issued or sold from time to time by the Fund, and shall credit such funds to the account of the Fund. The Custodian shall notify the Fund of Custodian's receipt of cash in payment for shares issued by the Fund in such manner as the Fund and the Custodian shall agree. Upon receipt of Instructions, the Custodian shall: (a) deliver all federal funds received by the Custodian in payment for shares as may be set forth in such Instructions and at a time agreed upon between the Custodian and the Fund; and (b) make federal funds available to the Fund as of specified times agreed upon from time to time by the Fund and the Custodian, in the amount of checks received in payment for shares which are deposited to the accounts of the Fund.
| (s) | Proxies and Notices; Compliance with the Shareholders Communication Act of 1985. |
The Custodian shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Fund, or its designated agent or proxy service provider, all forms of proxies, all notices of meetings, and any other notices or announcements affecting or relating to Securities owned by the Fund that are received by the Custodian and, upon receipt of Instructions, the Custodian shall execute and deliver, or cause a Subcustodian or nominee to execute and deliver such proxies or other authorizations as may be required. Except as directed pursuant to Instructions, the Custodian shall not vote upon any such Securities, or execute any proxy to vote thereon, or give any consent or take any other action with respect thereto.
The Custodian will not release the identity of any Fund to an issuer which requests such information pursuant to the Shareholder Communications Act of 1985 for the specific purpose of direct communications between such issuer and any the Fund unless the Fund directs the Custodian otherwise pursuant to Instructions.
| (t) | Books and Records. |
The Custodian shall maintain such records relating to its activities under this Agreement as are required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act and to preserve them for the periods prescribed in Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act. These records shall be open for inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or agents (including independent public accountants) of the Fund during normal business hours of the Custodian.
The Custodian shall provide accountings relating to its activities under this Agreement as shall be agreed upon by the Fund and the Custodian.
| (u) | Opinion of Fund's Independent Registered Public Accountants. |
The Custodian shall take all reasonable action as the Fund may request to obtain from year to year favorable opinions from the Fund's independent registered public accountants with respect to the Custodian's activities hereunder and in connection with the preparation of the Fund's periodic reports to the SEC and with respect to any other requirements of the SEC.
| (v) | Reports by Independent Registered Public Accountants. |
At the request of the Fund, the Custodian shall deliver to the Fund a written report, which may be in electronic form, prepared by the Custodian's independent registered public accountants with respect to the services provided by the Custodian under this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Custodian's accounting system, internal accounting control, financial strength and procedures for safeguarding cash, Securities and other Assets, including cash, Securities and other Assets deposited and/or maintained in a Securities System or with a Subcustodian. Such report shall be of sufficient scope and in sufficient detail as may reasonably be required by the Fund and as may reasonably be obtained by the Custodian.
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| (w) | Bills and Other Disbursements. |
Upon receipt of Instructions, the Custodian shall pay, or cause to be paid, all bills, statements, or other obligations of the Fund.
| (x) | Precious Metals |
The Fund may, upon Special Instructions, direct the Custodian to appoint, or instruct the Domestic Subcustodian (as hereinafter defined) to appoint, a depository for the safekeeping and storage of gold, silver, platinum and other precious metals (“Precious Metals”) on behalf of the Fund.
| (y) | Sweep or Automated Cash Management. |
Upon receipt of Instructions, the Custodian shall invest any otherwise uninvested cash of the Fund held by the Custodian in a money market mutual fund, a cash deposit product, or other cash investment vehicle made available by the Custodian from time to time, in accordance with the directions contained in such Instructions.
The Custodian shall have no responsibility to determine whether any purchases of money market mutual fund shares or any other cash investment vehicle or cash deposit product by or on behalf of the Fund under the terms of this section will cause any Fund to exceed the limitations contained in the 1940 Act on ownership of shares of another registered investment company or any other asset or portfolio restrictions or limitations contained in applicable laws or regulations or the Fund’s prospectus. The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Custodian from all losses, damages and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) suffered or incurred by the Custodian as a result of a violation by the Fund of the limitations on ownership of shares of another registered investment company or any other cash investment vehicle or cash deposit product.
5. SUBCUSTODIANS.
From time to time, in accordance with the relevant provisions of this Agreement, (i) the Custodian may appoint one or more Domestic Subcustodians, Foreign Subcustodians, Special Subcustodians or Interim Subcustodians (each as hereinafter defined) to act on behalf of the Fund; and (ii) the Custodian may be directed, pursuant to an agreement between the Fund and the Custodian (“Delegation Agreement”), to appoint a Domestic Subcustodian to perform the duties of the Foreign Custody Manager (as such term is defined in Rule 17f-5 under the 1940 Act) (“Approved Foreign Custody Manager”) for the Fund so long as such Domestic Subcustodian is so eligible under the 1940 Act. Such Delegation Agreement shall provide that the appointment of any Domestic Subcustodian as the Approved Foreign Custody Manager must be governed by a written agreement between the Custodian and the Domestic Subcustodian, which provides for compliance with Rule 17f-5. The Approved Foreign Custody Manager may then appoint a Foreign Subcustodian or Interim Subcustodian in accordance with this Section 5. For purposes of this Agreement, all Domestic Subcustodians, Special Subcustodians, Foreign Subcustodians and Interim Subcustodians shall be referred to collectively as “Subcustodians.”
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| (a) | Domestic Subcustodians. |
The Custodian may, at any time and from time to time, appoint any bank as defined in Section 2(a)(5) of the 1940 Act or any trust company or other entity, any of which meets the requirements of a custodian under Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, to act for the Custodian on behalf of the Fund as a subcustodian for purposes of holding Assets of the Fund and performing other functions of the Custodian within the United States (a "Domestic Subcustodian"). The Fund shall approve in writing the appointment of the proposed Domestic Subcustodian; and the Custodian's appointment of any such Domestic Subcustodian shall not be effective without such prior written approval of the Fund(s). Each such duly approved Domestic Subcustodian shall be reflected on Appendix A hereto.
| (b) | Foreign Subcustodians. |
(1) Foreign Subcustodians. The Approved Foreign Custody Manager may appoint any entity meeting the requirements of an Eligible Foreign Custodian, as such term is defined in Rule 17f-5(a)(1) under the 1940 Act, and which term shall also include a bank that qualifies to serve as a custodian of assets of investment companies under Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act or by SEC order is exempt therefrom (each a “Foreign Subcustodian” in the context of either a subcustodian or a sub-subcustodian), provided that the Approved Foreign Custody Manager’s appointments of such Foreign Subcustodians shall at all times be governed by an agreement that complies with Rule 17f-5.
(2) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Approved Foreign Custody Manager determines that it will not provide delegation services (i) in a country in which the Fund has directed that the Fund invest in a security or other Asset or (ii) with respect to a specific Foreign Subcustodian which the Fund has directed be used, the Custodian shall, or shall cause the Approved Foreign Custody Manager to, promptly notify the Fund in writing by Electronic Communication, or otherwise of the unavailability of the Approved Foreign Custody Manager’s delegation services in such country. The Custodian and the Approved Foreign Custody Manager (or Domestic Subcustodian) as applicable, shall be entitled to rely on and shall have no liability or responsibility for following such direction from the Fund as a Special Instruction and shall have no duties or liabilities under this Agreement save those that it may undertake specifically in writing with respect to each particular instance. Upon the receipt of such Special Instructions, the Custodian may, in it absolute discretion, designate, or cause the Approved Foreign Custody Manager to designate, an entity (defined herein as “Interim Subcustodian”) designated by the Fund in such Special Instructions, to hold such security or other Asset. In such event, the Fund represents and warrants that it has made a determination that the arrangement with such Interim Subcustodian satisfies the requirements of the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder (including Rule 17f-5, if applicable). It is further understood that where the Approved Foreign Custody Manager and the Custodian do not agree to provide fully to the Fund the services under this Agreement and the Delegation Agreement with respect to a particular country or specific Foreign Subcustodian, the Fund may delegate such services to another delegate pursuant to Rule 17f-5.
| (c) | Special Subcustodians. |
Upon receipt of Special Instructions, the Custodian shall, on behalf of the Fund, appoint one or more banks, trust companies or other entities designated in such Special Instructions to act for the Custodian on behalf of the Fund as a subcustodian for purposes of: (i) effecting third-party repurchase transactions with banks, brokers, dealers or other entities through the use of a common custodian or subcustodian; (ii) providing depository and clearing agency services with respect to certain variable rate demand note Securities, (iii) providing depository and clearing agency services with respect to dollar denominated Securities; and (iv) effecting any other transactions designated by the Fund in such Special Instructions. Each such designated subcustodian (hereinafter referred to as a "Special Subcustodian") shall be listed on Appendix A attached hereto, as it may be amended from time to time. In connection with the appointment of any Special Subcustodian, the Custodian may enter into a subcustodian agreement with the Special Subcustodian. The Custodian agrees to provide notice to the Fund of the appointment of any such Special Subcustodian and a copy of any relevant subcustodian agreement with the Special Subcustodian, if applicable.
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| (d) | Termination of a Subcustodian. |
The Custodian may, at any time in its discretion upon notification to the Fund, terminate any Subcustodian of the Fund(s) in accordance with the termination provisions under the applicable subcustodian agreement, and upon the receipt of Special Instructions, the Custodian shall terminate any Subcustodian in accordance with the termination provisions under the applicable subcustodian agreement.
| (e) | Information Regarding Foreign Subcustodians. |
Upon request of the Fund, the Custodian shall deliver, or cause any Approved Foreign Custody Manager to deliver, to the Fund a letter or list stating: (i) the identity of each Foreign Subcustodian then acting on behalf of the Custodian; (ii) the Eligible Securities Depositories (as defined in Section 5(f)) in each foreign market through which each Foreign Subcustodian is then holding cash, securities and other Assets of the Fund; and (iii) such other information as may be requested by the Fund to ensure compliance with rules and regulations under the 1940 Act.
| (f) | Eligible Securities Depositories. |
(1) The Custodian or the Domestic Subcustodian may place and maintain the Fund’s Foreign Assets with an Eligible Securities Depository (as defined in Rule 17f-7, which term shall include any other securities depository for which the SEC by exemptive order has permitted registered investment companies to maintain their assets).
(2) Upon the request of the Fund, the Custodian shall direct the Domestic Subcustodian to provide to the Fund (including the Fund’s board of directors or trustees) and/or the Fund’s adviser or other agent an analysis of the custody risks associated with maintaining the Fund’s Foreign Assets with such Eligible Securities Depository utilized directly or indirectly by the Custodian or the Domestic Subcustodian as of the date hereof (or, in the case of an Eligible Securities Depository not so utilized as of the date hereof, prior to the placement of the Fund’s Foreign Assets at such depository) and at which any Foreign Assets of the Fund are held or are expected to be held. The Custodian shall direct the Domestic Subcustodian to monitor the custody risks associated with maintaining the Fund’s Foreign Assets at each such Eligible Securities Depository on a continuing basis and shall promptly notify the Fund or its adviser of any material changes in such risks through the Approved Foreign Custody Manager’s letter, market alerts or other periodic correspondence.
(3) The Custodian shall direct the Domestic Subcustodian to determine the eligibility under Rule 17f-7 of each foreign securities depository before maintaining the Fund’s Foreign Assets therewith and shall promptly advise the Fund if any Eligible Securities Depository ceases to be so eligible. Notwithstanding Subsection 17(c) hereof, Eligible Securities Depositories may, subject to Rule 17f- 7, be added to or deleted from such list from time to time.
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(4) Withdrawal of Assets. If an arrangement with an Eligible Securities Depository no longer meets the requirements of Rule 17f-7, the Custodian shall direct the Domestic Subcustodian to withdraw the Fund’s Foreign Assets from such depository as soon as reasonably practicable.
(5) Standard of Care. In fulfilling its responsibilities under this Section 5(f), the Custodian will exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence.
6. STANDARD OF CARE.
| (a) | General Standard of Care. |
The Custodian shall exercise due care in accordance with reasonable commercial standards in discharging its duties hereunder. The Custodian shall be liable to the Fund for all losses, damages and reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) suffered or incurred by the Fund resulting from the material breach of this Agreement, gross negligence, bad faith, fraud or willful misconduct of the Custodian or its employees, or the Custodian’s or its employees’ reckless disregard of its duties under this Agreement.
| (b) | Actions Prohibited by Applicable Law, Etc. |
In no event shall the Custodian incur liability hereunder if the Custodian or any Subcustodian or Securities System, or any Subcustodian, Eligible Securities Depository utilized by any such Subcustodian, or any nominee of the Custodian or any Subcustodian (individually, a “Person”) is prevented, forbidden or delayed from performing, or omits to perform, any act or thing which this Agreement provides shall be performed or omitted to be performed, by reason of: (i) any provision of any present or future law or regulation or order of the United States of America, or any state thereof, or of any foreign country, or political subdivision thereof or of any court of competent jurisdiction (and neither the Custodian nor any other Person shall be obligated to take any action contrary thereto); or (ii) any “Force Majeure,” which for purposes of this Agreement, shall mean any circumstance or event which is beyond the reasonable control of the Custodian, a Subcustodian or any agent of the Custodian or a Subcustodian and which adversely affects the performance by the Custodian of its obligations hereunder, by the Subcustodian of its obligations under its subcustodian agreement or by any other agent of the Custodian or the Subcustodian, unless in each case, such delay or nonperformance is caused by the material breach of this Agreement, negligence, bad faith, fraud or willful misconduct of the Custodian or its employees, or the Custodian’s or its employees’ reckless disregard of its duties under this Agreement. Such Force Majeure events may include any event caused by, arising out of or involving (a) an act of God, (b) accident, fire, water damage or explosion, (c) any computer, system outage or downtime or other equipment failure or malfunction caused by any computer virus or any other reason or the malfunction or failure of any communications medium, (d) any interruption of the power supply or other utility service, (e) any strike or other work stoppage, whether partial or total, (f) any delay or disruption resulting from or reflecting the occurrence of any Sovereign Risk (as defined below), (g) any disruption of, or suspension of trading in, the securities, commodities or foreign exchange markets, whether or not resulting from or reflecting the occurrence of any Sovereign Risk, (h) any encumbrance on the transferability of cash, currency or a currency position on the actual settlement date of a foreign exchange transaction, whether or not resulting from or reflecting the occurrence of any Sovereign Risk, or (i) any other cause similarly beyond the reasonable control of the Custodian.
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Subject to the Custodian’s general standard of care set forth in Subsection 6(a) hereof and the requirements of Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act and Rules 17f-5 and 17f-7 thereunder, the Custodian shall not incur liability hereunder if any Person is prevented, forbidden or delayed from performing, or omits to perform, any act or thing which this Agreement provides shall be performed or omitted to be performed by reason of any (i) “Sovereign Risk,” which for the purpose of this Agreement shall mean, in respect of any jurisdiction, including but not limited to the United States of America, where investments are acquired or held under this Agreement, (a) any act of war, terrorism, riot, insurrection or civil commotion, (b) the imposition of any investment, repatriation or exchange control restrictions by any governmental authority, (c) the confiscation, expropriation or nationalization of any investments by any governmental authority, whether de facto or de jure, (d) any devaluation or revaluation of the currency, (e) the imposition of taxes, levies or other charges affecting investments, (f) any change in the applicable law, or (g) any other economic, systemic or political risk incurred or experienced that is not directly related to the economic or financial conditions of the Eligible Foreign Custodian, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or the Delegation Agreement, or (ii) “Country Risk,” which for the purpose of this Agreement shall mean, with respect to the acquisition, ownership, settlement or custody of investments in a jurisdiction, all risks relating to, or arising in consequence of, systemic and markets factors affecting the acquisition, payment for or ownership of investments, including (a) the prevalence of crime and corruption in such jurisdiction, (b) the inaccuracy or unreliability of business and financial information (unrelated to the Approved Foreign Custody Manager’s duties imposed by Rule 17f-5(c) under the 1940 Act or to the duties imposed on the Custodian by Rule 17f-7 under the 1940 Act), (c) the instability or volatility of banking and financial systems, or the absence or inadequacy of an infrastructure to support such systems, (d) custody and settlement infrastructure of the market in which such investments are transacted and held, (e) the acts, omissions and operation of any Eligible Securities Depository, it being understood that this provision shall not excuse the Custodian’s performance under the express terms of this Agreement, (f) the risk of the bankruptcy or insolvency of banking agents, counterparties to cash and securities transactions, registrars or transfer agents, (g) the existence of market conditions which prevent the orderly execution or settlement of transactions or which affect the value of assets, and (h) the laws relating to the safekeeping and recovery of the Fund’s Foreign Assets held in custody pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; provided, however, that, in compliance with Rule 17f-5, neither Sovereign Risk nor Country Risk shall include the custody risk of a particular Eligible Foreign Custodian of the Fund’s Foreign Assets.
| (c) | Liability for Past Records. |
Neither the Custodian nor any Domestic Subcustodian shall have any liability in respect of any loss, damage or expense suffered by the Fund, insofar as such loss, damage or expense arises from the performance of the Custodian or any Domestic Subcustodian in reliance upon records that were maintained for the Fund by entities other than the Custodian or any Domestic Subcustodian prior to the Custodian's employment hereunder.
| (d) | Advice of Counsel. |
The Custodian and all Domestic Subcustodians shall be entitled to receive and act upon advice of counsel of its own choosing on all questions of law. The Custodian and all Domestic Subcustodians shall be without liability for any actions taken or omitted in good faith pursuant to such advice of counsel.
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| (e) | Advice of the Fund and Others. |
The Custodian and any Domestic Subcustodian may rely upon the advice of the Fund and upon statements of the Fund's accountants and other persons believed by it in good faith to be expert in matters upon which they are consulted, and neither the Custodian nor any Domestic Subcustodian shall be liable for any actions taken or omitted, in good faith, pursuant to such advice or statements.
| (f) | Information Services. |
The Custodian may rely upon information received from issuers of Securities or agents of such issuers, information received from Subcustodians or depositories, information from data reporting services that provide detail on corporate actions and other securities information, and other commercially reasonable industry sources; and, provided the Custodian has acted in accordance with the standard of care set forth in Section 6 (a), the Custodian shall have no liability as a result of relying upon such information sources, including but not limited to errors in any such information.
| (g) | Instructions Appearing to be Genuine. |
The Custodian and all Domestic Subcustodians shall be fully protected and indemnified in acting as a custodian hereunder upon any Resolutions of the Board of Directors or Trustees, Instructions, Special Instructions, advice, notice, request, consent, certificate, instrument or paper appearing to it to be genuine and to have been properly executed and shall, unless otherwise specifically provided herein, be entitled to receive as conclusive proof of any fact or matter required to be ascertained from any Fund hereunder a certificate signed by any officer of the Fund authorized to countersign or confirm Special Instructions. The Custodian shall have no liability for any losses, damages or expenses incurred by the Fund arising from the use of a non-secure form of email or other non-secure electronic system or process.
| (h) | No Investment Advice. |
The Custodian shall have no duty to assess the risks inherent in Securities or other Assets or to provide investment advice, accounting or other valuation services regarding any such Securities or other Assets.
| (i) | Exceptions from Liability. |
Without limiting the generality of any other provisions hereof, neither the Custodian nor any Domestic Subcustodian shall be under any duty or obligation to inquire into, nor be liable for:
(i) the validity of the issue of any Securities purchased by or for the Fund, the legality of the purchase thereof or evidence of ownership required to be received by the Fund, or the propriety of the decision to purchase or amount paid therefor;
(ii) the legality of the sale, transfer or movement of any Securities by or for the Fund, or the propriety of the amount for which the same were sold; or
(iii) any other expenditures, encumbrances of Securities, borrowings or similar actions with respect to the Fund's Assets;
and may, until notified to the contrary, presume that all Instructions or Special Instructions received by it are not in conflict with or in any way contrary to any provisions of the Fund's Declaration of Trust, By-Laws or similar governing documents or votes or proceedings of the shareholders, trustees, partners or directors of the Fund, or the Fund's currently effective Registration Statement on file with the SEC.
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7. LIABILITY OF THE CUSTODIAN FOR ACTIONS OF OTHERS.
| (a) | Domestic Subcustodians |
Except as provided in Section 7(d), the Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of any Domestic Subcustodian to the same extent as if such actions or omissions were performed by the Custodian itself.
| (b) | Liability for Acts and Omissions of Foreign Subcustodians. |
The Custodian shall be liable to the Fund for any loss or damage to the Fund caused by or resulting from the acts or omissions of any Foreign Subcustodian to the extent that, under the terms set forth in the subcustodian agreement between the Custodian or a Domestic Subcustodian and such Foreign Subcustodian, the Foreign Subcustodian has failed to perform in accordance with the standard of conduct imposed under such subcustodian agreement and the Custodian or Domestic Subcustodian recovers from the Foreign Subcustodian under the applicable subcustodian agreement.
| (c) | Securities Systems, Interim Subcustodians, Special Subcustodians, Eligible Securities Depositories. |
The Custodian shall not be liable to any Fund for any loss, damage or expense suffered or incurred by the Fund resulting from or occasioned by the actions or omissions of a Securities System, Interim Subcustodian, Special Subcustodian, or Eligible Securities Depository unless such loss, damage or expense is caused by, or results from, the material breach of this Agreement, negligence, bad faith, fraud or willful misconduct of the Custodian or its employees, or the Custodian’s or its employees’ reckless disregard of its duties under this Agreement.
| (d) | Failure of Third Parties. |
The Custodian shall not be liable for any loss, damage or expense suffered or incurred by the Fund resulting from or occasioned by the actions, omissions, neglects, defaults, insolvency or other failure of any (i) issuer of any Securities or of any agent of such issuer; (ii) any counterparty with respect to any Security or other Asset, including any issuer of any option, futures, derivatives or commodities contract; (iii) investment adviser or other agent of the Fund; or (iv) any broker, bank, trust company or any other person with whom the Custodian may deal (other than any of such entities acting as a Subcustodian, Securities System or Eligible Securities Depository, for whose actions the liability of the Custodian is set out elsewhere in this Agreement); or (v) any agent or depository (including but not limited to a securities lending agent or precious metals depository) with whom the Custodian may deal at the direction of, and behalf of, the Fund; unless such loss, damage or expense is caused by, or results from, the material breach of this Agreement, negligence, bad faith, fraud or willful misconduct of the Custodian or its employees, or the Custodian’s or its employees’ reckless disregard of its duties under this Agreement or the Custodian’s or its employees’ breach of the terms of any contract between the Fund and the Custodian.
8. INDEMNIFICATION.
| (a) | Indemnification by Fund. |
Subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, the Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Custodian and its nominees from all losses, damages and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) suffered or incurred by the Custodian or its nominee caused by or arising from actions taken by the Custodian, its employees or agents in the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, including, but not limited to, any indemnification obligations undertaken by the Custodian under any relevant subcustodian agreement; provided, however, that such indemnity shall not apply to the extent the Custodian is liable under Sections 6 or 7 hereof.
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If the Fund requires the Custodian to take any action with respect to Securities, which action involves the payment of money or which may, in the opinion of the Custodian, result in the Custodian or its nominee assigned to the Fund being liable for the payment of money or incurring liability of some other form, the Fund, as a prerequisite to requiring the Custodian to take such action, shall provide indemnity to the Custodian in an amount and form satisfactory to it; provided, however, that such indemnity shall not apply to the extent the Custodian is liable under Sections 6 or 7 hereof.
| (b) | Indemnification by Custodian. |
Subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, the Custodian agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund from all losses, damages and expenses including reasonable attorneys’ fees (with the exception of those damages and expenses referenced in Section 6(a)) suffered or incurred by the Fund relating to or arising out of the material breach of this Agreement, negligence, bad faith, fraud or willful misconduct of the Custodian or its employees or the Custodian’s or its employees’ reckless disregard of its duties under this Agreement.
9. ADVANCES.
In the event that the Custodian or any Subcustodian, Securities System, or Eligible Securities Depository acting either directly or indirectly under agreement with the Custodian (each of which for purposes of this Section 9 shall be referred to as "Custodian"), makes any payment or transfer of funds on behalf of the Fund as to which there would be, at the close of business on the date of such payment or transfer, insufficient funds held by the Custodian on behalf of the Fund, the Custodian may, in its discretion without further Instructions, provide an advance ("Advance") to the Fund in an amount sufficient to allow the completion of the transaction by reason of which such payment or transfer of funds is to be made. In addition, in the event the Custodian is directed by Instructions to make any payment or transfer of funds on behalf of any Fund as to which it is subsequently determined that the Fund has overdrawn its cash account with the Custodian as of the close of business on the date of such payment or transfer, said overdraft shall constitute an Advance. Any Advance shall be payable by the Fund on behalf of which the Advance was made on demand by Custodian, unless otherwise agreed by the Fund and the Custodian, and shall accrue interest from the date of the Advance to the date of payment by the Fund to the Custodian at a rate determined from time to time by the Custodian. It is understood that any transaction in respect of which the Custodian shall have made an Advance, including but not limited to a foreign exchange contract or transaction in respect of which the Custodian is not acting as a principal, is for the account of and at the risk of the Fund on behalf of which the Advance was made, and not, by reason of such Advance, deemed to be a transaction undertaken by the Custodian for its own account and risk. The Custodian and the Fund which are parties to this Agreement acknowledge that the purpose of Advances is to finance temporarily the purchase or sale of Securities and other Assets for prompt delivery in accordance with the settlement terms of such transactions or to meet emergency expenses not reasonably foreseeable by the Fund. The Custodian shall promptly notify the Fund of any Advance. Such notification may be communicated by telephone, Electronic Communication or in such other manner as the Custodian may choose. Nothing herein shall be deemed to create an obligation on the part of the Custodian to advance monies to the Fund.
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10. SECURITY INTEREST.
To secure the due and prompt payment of all Advances, together with any taxes, charges, fees, expenses, assessments, obligations, claims or liabilities incurred by the Custodian in connection with its or their performance of any duties under this Agreement (collectively, “Liabilities”), except for any Liabilities arising from or the Custodian’s or its employees’ material breach of this Agreement, negligence, bad faith, fraud or willful misconduct or the Custodian’s or its employees’ reckless disregard of its duties under this Agreement, the Fund grants to the Custodian a security interest in all of the Fund’s Securities and other Assets now or hereafter in the possession of the Custodian and all proceeds thereof (collectively, the “Collateral”). The Fund shall promptly reimburse the Custodian for any and all such Liabilities. In the event that the Fund fails to satisfy any of the Liabilities as and when due and payable, the Custodian shall have in respect of the Collateral, in addition to all other rights and remedies arising hereunder or under local law, the rights and remedies of a secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code. Without prejudice to the Custodian’s rights under applicable law, the Custodian shall be entitled, without notice to the Fund, to withhold delivery of any Collateral, sell, set-off, or otherwise realize upon or dispose of any such Collateral and to apply the money or other proceeds and any other monies credited to the Fund in satisfaction of the Liabilities. This includes, but is not limited to, any interest on any such unpaid Liability as the Custodian deems reasonable, and all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Custodian in connection with the sale, set-off or other disposition of such Collateral.
11. COMPENSATION.
The Fund will pay to the Custodian such compensation as is set forth on Schedule A hereto, or as otherwise agreed to in writing by the Custodian and the Fund from time to time. In addition, the Fund shall reimburse the Custodian for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Custodian in connection with this Agreement, but excluding salaries and usual overhead expenses. Such compensation, and expenses shall be billed to the Fund and paid in cash to the Custodian.
12. POWERS OF ATTORNEY.
Upon request, the Fund shall deliver to the Custodian such proxies, powers of attorney or other instruments as may be reasonable and necessary or desirable in connection with the performance by the Custodian or any Subcustodian of their respective obligations under this Agreement or any applicable subcustodian agreement.
13. TAX LAWS.
The Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any obligations now or hereafter imposed on the Fund or on the Custodian as custodian for the Fund by the tax law of any country or of any state or political subdivision thereof. The Fund agrees to indemnify the Custodian for and against any such obligations including taxes, tax reclaims, withholding and reporting requirements, claims for exemption or refund, additions for late payment, interest, penalties and other expenses (including legal expenses) that may be assessed against the Fund or the Custodian as custodian of the Fund.
14. TERM AND ASSIGNMENT.
This Agreement shall continue in effect with respect to the Fund for a three-year period beginning on the date of this Agreement (the “Initial Term”). Thereafter, if not terminated as provided herein, the Agreement shall continue automatically in effect as to the Fund for successive one-year periods (each a “Renewal Term”).
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In the event this Agreement is terminated by the Fund prior to the end of the Initial Term or any subsequent Renewal Term without cause (as defined below), the Fund shall be obligated to pay the Custodian the remaining balance of the fees payable to the Custodian under this Agreement through the end of the Initial Term or Renewal Term, as applicable. Either party may terminate this Agreement at the end of the Initial Term or at the end of any successive Renewal Term (the “Termination Date”) by giving the other party a written notice not less than ninety (90) days’ prior to the end of the respective term. The Fund may terminate this Agreement effective immediately if the Custodian materially breaches this Agreement (“cause”). Upon termination of this Agreement other than for cause, the Fund shall pay to the Custodian such fees as may be due the Custodian hereunder as well as its reimbursable disbursements, costs and expenses paid or incurred. Upon termination of this Agreement, the Custodian shall deliver, at the terminating party's expense, all Assets held by it hereunder to a successor custodian designated by the Fund or, if a successor custodian is not designated, then to the Fund or as otherwise designated by the Fund by Special Instructions. Upon such delivery, the Custodian shall have no further obligations or liabilities under this Agreement except as to the final resolution of matters relating to activity occurring prior to the effective date of termination. In the event that for any reason Securities or other Assets remain in the possession of the Custodian after the date such termination shall take effect, the Custodian shall be entitled to compensation at the same rates as agreed to by the Custodian and the Fund during the term of this Agreement as set forth in Section 11.
This Agreement may not be assigned by the Custodian or the Fund without the respective consent of the other.
15. ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
[RESERVED]
16. NOTICES.
As to the Fund, notices, requests, instructions and other writings delivered to MVP Private Markets Fund, c/o Portfolio Advisors, LLC, 9 Old Kings Highway South, Darien, CT 06820, Attn: Daniel Iamiceli, Chief Financial Officer - Funds, postage prepaid with a copy to: (i) mvpprivatemarkets@portad.com, and (ii) PAFinance@portad.com, or to such other address as the Fund may have designated to the Custodian in writing, shall be deemed to have been properly delivered or given to the Fund. Notwithstanding the foregoing no notice will be deemed to have been properly delivered or given to the Fund unless it (or a copy thereof) is also sent by e-mail to the e-mail addresses set forth above.
Notices, requests, instructions and other writings delivered to the Custodian at its office at 928 Grand Blvd., 10th Floor, Attn: Amy Small, Kansas City, Missouri 64106, postage prepaid, or to such other addresses as the Custodian may have designated to the Fund in writing, shall be deemed to have been properly delivered or given to the Custodian hereunder; provided, however, that procedures for the delivery of Instructions and Special Instructions shall be governed by Section 2(c) hereof.
17. CONFIDENTIALITY.
The parties agree that all Information, books and records provided by the Custodian or the Fund to each other in connection with this Agreement, and all information provided by either party pertaining to its business or operations, is “Confidential Information.” All Confidential Information shall be used by the party receiving such information only for the purpose of providing or obtaining services under this Agreement and, except as may be required to carry out the terms of this Agreement, shall not be disclosed to any other party without the express consent of the party providing such Confidential Information. The foregoing limitations shall not apply to any information that is available to the general public other than as a result of a breach of this Agreement, or that is required to be disclosed by or to any entity having regulatory authority over a party hereto or any auditor of a party hereto or that is required to be disclosed as a result of a subpoena or other judicial process, or otherwise by applicable laws; provided, however, that if a party is required to disclose Confidential Information as a result of a subpoena or other judicial process, or otherwise by applicable laws, such party will use commercially reasonable efforts to provide the other party with prior notice of such required disclosure so that such other party may oppose such disclosure or seek a protective order.
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18. ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING COMPLIANCE.
The Fund represents and warrants that it has established and maintain policies and procedures reasonably designed to meet the requirements imposed by the USA PATRIOT Act, including policies and procedures reasonably designed to detect and prevent money laundering, including those required by the USA PATRIOT Act. The Fund agrees to provide to the Custodian, from time to time upon the request of the Custodian, certifications regarding its compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act and other anti-money laundering laws. The Fund acknowledges that, because the Custodian will not have information regarding the shareholders of the Fund, the Fund will assume responsibility for customer identification and verification and other CIP requirements in regard to such shareholders.
19. NO PUNITIVE DAMAGES.
In no event shall either party be liable for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages arising under or in connection with this Agreement whether arising out of breach of contract, tort or otherwise, regardless of whether such damages were foreseeable.
20. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to conflicts-of-law principles.
(b) All of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto.
(c) No provisions of this Agreement may be amended, modified or waived in any manner except in writing, properly executed by both parties hereto; provided, however, Appendix A may be amended from time to time as Domestic Subcustodians, Securities Systems, and Special Subcustodians are approved or terminated according to the terms of this Agreement.
(d) The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only, and in no way define or delimit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
(e) This Agreement shall be effective as of the date of execution of the last signatory hereto.
(f) This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.
(g) If any part, term or provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, in conflict with any law or otherwise invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining portion or portions shall be considered severable and shall not be affected, and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced as if this Agreement did not contain the particular part, term or provision held to be illegal or invalid.
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(h) Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Delegation Agreement (if applicable), as amended from time to time, constitute the entire understanding and agreement of the parties thereto with respect to the subject matter therein and accordingly, supersedes as of the effective date of this Agreement any custodian agreement heretofore in effect between the Fund and the Custodian.
(i) The rights and obligations contained in Sections 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,17, 19 and 20 of this Agreement shall continue, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement, in order to fulfill the intention of the parties as described in such Sections.
(j) The Custodian shall maintain a disaster recovery and business continuity plan and adequate and reliable computer and other equipment necessary and appropriate to carry out its obligations under this Agreement. Subject to Section 8(b), the Custodian assumes no responsibility hereunder, and shall not be liable, for any default, damage, loss of data or documents, errors, delay or any other loss whatsoever caused by events beyond its reasonable control. The Custodian will, however, take all reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions for any period that such interruption continues beyond its control.
(k) The Custodian shall have no power or authority to assign, hypothecate, pledge or otherwise dispose of any securities or investments, except as expressly provided in Section 10 or elsewhere in this Agreement or upon Instructions authorizing the transaction.
(l) The Custodian shall furnish to the Fund the following reports: (i) such periodic and special reports as the Fund may reasonably request; (ii) a monthly statement summarizing all transactions and entries for the account of the Fund, listing each portfolio security belonging to the Fund (with the corresponding security identification number) held at the end of such month and stating the cash balance of the Fund at the end of such month; (iii) the reports required to be furnished to the Fund pursuant to Rule 17f-4 of the 1940 Act; and (iv) such other information as may be agreed upon from time to time between the Fund and the Custodian.
[Signature page to follow.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Custody Agreement to be executed by their respective duly authorized officers.
| MVP PRIVATE MARKETS FUND | |||||
| Attest: | By: | ||||
| Name: | |||||
| Title: | |||||
| Date: | |||||
| UMB BANK, N.A. | |||||
| Attest: | By: | ||||
| Name: | Amy Small | ||||
| Title: | Senior Vice President | ||||
| Date: | |||||
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Schedule A
to the
Custody Agreement
by and between
MVP Private Markets Fund
and
UMB Bank, N.A.
Fees
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APPENDIX A
CUSTODY AGREEMENT
The following Subcustodians and Securities Systems are approved for use in connection with the Custody Agreement dated __________________.
SECURITIES SYSTEMS:
Depository Trust Company
Federal Book Entry
SPECIAL SUBCUSTODIANS:
DOMESTIC SUBCUSTODIANS:
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (Foreign Securities Only)
| MVP PRIVATE MARKETS FUND | UMB BANK, N.A. | ||||
| By: | By: | ||||
| Name: | Name: | Amy Small | |||
| Title: | Title: | Senior Vice President | |||
| Date: | Date: | ||||
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Services Agreement
This Services Agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into and effective as of October , 2021 (the “Effective Date”) by and among:
| 1. | ALPS Fund Services, Inc., a corporation incorporated in the State of Colorado (“SS&C ALPS”); |
| 2. | DST Asset Manager Solutions, Inc., a company incorporated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (“SS&C DST,” and collectively with SS&C ALPS, “SS&C”); and |
| 3. | MVP Private Markets Fund, a Delaware statutory trust, registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as a closed-end management investment company that is operated as an interval fund pursuant to Rule 23c-3 of the 1940 Act (“Fund”). |
Fund, SS&C ALPS and SS&C DST each may be referred to individually as a “Party” or collectively as “Parties.”
| 1. | Definitions; Interpretation |
| 1.1. | As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings: |
(a) “Action” means any civil, criminal, regulatory or administrative lawsuit, allegation, demand, claim, counterclaim, action, dispute, sanction, suit, request, inquiry, investigation, arbitration or proceeding, in each case, made, asserted, commenced or threatened by any Person (including any Government Authority).
(b) “Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that is controlled by, controls, or is under common control with such Person and “control” of a Person means: (i) ownership of, or possession of the right to vote, more than 50% of the outstanding voting equity of that Person or (ii) the right to control the appointment of the board of directors or analogous governing body, management or executive officers of that Person.
(c) “Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday or Sunday on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for business.
(d) “Claim” means any Action arising out of the subject matter of, or in any way related to, this Agreement, its formation or the Services.
(e) “Client Data” means all data of Fund (or Management, if Management receives Services), including data related to securities trades and other transaction data, investment returns, issue descriptions, and Market Data provided by Fund or Management and all output and derivatives thereof, necessary to enable SS&C to perform the Services, but excluding SS&C Property.
(f) “Confidential Information” means any information about Fund, Management or SS&C, including this Agreement, except for information that (i) is or becomes part of the public domain without breach of this Agreement by the receiving Party, (ii) was rightfully acquired from a third party, or is developed independently, by the receiving Party, or (iii) is generally known by Persons in the technology, securities, or financial services industries.
(g) “Controller” has the meaning given in Article 4 (Definitions) of GDPR and Section 2 of DPL, as applicable.
(h) “Data Supplier” means a supplier of Market Data.
(i) “DPL” means the Cayman Islands Data Protection Law, 2017.
(j) “GDPR” means the General Data Protection Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016, the effective date of which is 25 May 2018, including any applicable data protection legislation or regulations supplementing it in those jurisdictions in which relevant Services are provided to Fund or Management by SS&C from time to time.
(k) “Governing Documents” means the applicable constitutional documents of an entity and, with respect to Fund, all minutes of meetings of the board of directors or analogous governing body and of shareholders meetings, and any offering memorandum, subscription materials and other disclosure documents utilized by Fund in connection with the offering of any of its securities or interests to investors, all as amended from time to time.
(l) “Government Authority” means any relevant administrative, judicial, executive, legislative or other governmental or intergovernmental entity, department, agency, commission, board, bureau or court, and any other regulatory or self-regulatory organizations, in any country or jurisdiction.
(m) “Law” means statutes, rules, regulations, interpretations and orders of any Government Authority.
(n) “Losses” means any and all compensatory, direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential, punitive, exemplary, enhanced or other damages, settlement payments, attorneys’ fees, costs, damages, charges, expenses, interest, applicable taxes or other losses of any kind.
(o) “Management” means the Fund’s officers, directors, employees, and the investment adviser (currently Portfolio Advisors, LLC and sub-advisor(s) (if any), as well as any officers, directors, employees, agents of the then current investment adviser and sub-advisor(s) (if applicable) who are responsible for the day to day operations and management of the Fund.
(p) “Market Data” means third party market and reference data, including pricing, valuation, security master, corporate action and related data.
(q) “Person” means any natural person or corporate or unincorporated entity or organization and that person’s personal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.
(r) “Personal Data” has the meaning given in Article 4 (Definitions) of GDPR and Section 2 of DPL, as applicable.
(s) “Processor” has the meaning given in Article 4 (Definitions) of GDPR and Section 2 of DPL, as applicable.
(t) “Services” means the services listed in Schedule A.
(u) “SS&C Associates” means SS&C and each of its Affiliates, members, shareholders, directors, officers, partners, employees, agents, successors or assigns.
(v) “SS&C Property” means all hardware, software, source code, data, report designs, spreadsheet formulas, information gathering or reporting techniques, know-how, technology and all other property commonly referred to as intellectual property used by SS&C in connection with its performance of the Services.
(w) “Third Party Claim” means a Claim (i) brought by any Person other than the indemnifying Party or (ii) brought by a Party on behalf of or that could otherwise be asserted by a third party.
1.2. Other capitalized terms used in this Agreement but not defined in this Section 1 shall have the meanings ascribed thereto.
1.3. Section and Schedule headings shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement. This Agreement includes the schedules and appendices hereto. In the event of a conflict between this Agreement and such schedules or appendices, the former shall control.
1.4. Words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular. The words “including,” “includes,” “included” and “include”, when used, are deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of analogous import shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.
1.5. The Parties’ duties and obligations are governed by and limited to the express terms and conditions of this Agreement, and shall not be modified, supplemented, amended or interpreted in accordance with, any industry custom or practice, or any internal policies or procedures of any Party. The Parties have mutually negotiated the terms hereof and there shall be no presumption of law relating to the interpretation of contracts against the drafter.
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2. Services and Fees
2.1. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, SS&C will perform the Services set forth in Schedule A for Fund and, if and to the extent specifically set forth therein, Management. SS&C shall be under no duty or obligation to perform any service except as specifically listed in Schedule A or take any other action except as specifically listed in Schedule A or this Agreement, and no other duties or obligations, including, valuation related, fiduciary or analogous duties or obligations, shall be implied. Fund or Management requests to change the Services, including those necessitated by a change to the Governing Documents of Fund or Management or a change in applicable Law, will only be binding on SS&C when they are reflected in an amendment to Schedule A.
2.2. Fund agrees to pay the fees, charges and expenses set forth in the fee letter(s) (a “Fee Letter”), which may be amended from time to time. Each Fee Letter is incorporated by reference into this Agreement and subject to the terms of this Agreement.
2.3. In carrying out its duties and obligations pursuant to this Agreement, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, some or all Services may be delegated by SS&C to one or more of its Affiliates or other Persons (and any required Fund consent to such delegation shall not be unreasonably revoked or withheld in respect of any such delegations), provided that such Persons are selected in good faith and with reasonable care and are monitored by SS&C. If SS&C delegates any Services, (i) such delegation shall not relieve SS&C of its duties and obligations hereunder, (ii) in respect of Personal Data, such delegation shall be subject to a written agreement obliging the delegate to comply with the relevant delegated duties and obligations of SS&C, and (iii) if required by applicable Law, SS&C will identify such agents and the Services delegated and will update Fund when making any material changes in sufficient detail to provide transparency and to enable Fund to object to a particular arrangement. SS&C shall be responsible for the acts and omissions of any delegate.
3. Fund and Management Responsibilities
3.1. The management and control of Fund are vested exclusively in Fund’s governing body (e.g., the board of directors for a company) and Management, subject to the terms and provisions of Fund’s Governing Documents. Fund’s governing body and Management will make all decisions, perform all management functions relating to the operation of Fund, and Management shall authorize all transactions. Without limiting the foregoing, Management shall:
(a) Designate qualified individuals to oversee the Services and establish and maintain internal controls, including monitoring the ongoing activities of Fund.
(b) Review all reports, analyses and records resulting from the Services and promptly inform SS&C of any errors it becomes aware of.
(c) Provide, or cause to be provided, valuations of Fund’s assets and liabilities in accordance with Fund’s written valuation policies.
(d) Provide SS&C with timely and accurate information including trading and Fund investor records, valuations and any other items required by SS&C in order to perform the Services and its duties and obligations hereunder.
3.2. The Services, including any services that involve price comparison to vendors and other sources, model or analytical pricing or any other pricing functions, are provided by SS&C as a support function to Fund and do not limit or modify Fund’s responsibility for determining the value of Fund’s assets and liabilities.
3.3. Each of Fund and Management is solely and exclusively responsible for ensuring that it complies with Law and its respective Governing Documents. It is Fund’s responsibility to provide all final Fund Governing Documents as of the Effective Date. Fund will notify SS&C in writing of any changes to the Fund Governing Documents that may materially impact the Services and/or that affect Fund’s investment strategy, liquidity or risk profile in any material respect prior to such changes taking effect. SS&C is not responsible for monitoring compliance by Fund or Management with (i) Law, (ii) its respective Governing Documents or (iii) any investment restrictions.
3.4. In the event that Market Data is supplied to or through SS&C Associates in connection with the Services, the Market Data is proprietary to Data Suppliers and is provided on a limited internal-use license basis. Market Data may: (i) only be used by Fund and Management in connection with the Services and (ii) not be disseminated by Fund or Management or used to populate internal systems in lieu of obtaining a data license. Access to and delivery of Market Data is dependent on the Data Suppliers and may be interrupted or discontinued with or without notice.
| 3 |
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither SS&C nor any Data Supplier shall be liable to Fund, Management or any other Person for any Losses with respect to Market Data, reliance by SS&C Associates or Fund on Market Data or the provision of Market Data in connection with this Agreement.
3.5. Fund shall deliver, and procure that its agents, prime brokers, counterparties, brokers, counsel, advisors, auditors, clearing agents, and any other Persons promptly deliver, to SS&C, all Client Data and the then most current version of all Fund Governing Documents and any agreement between Management and Fund. Fund shall arrange with each such Person to deliver such information and materials on a timely basis, and SS&C will not be required to enter any agreements with that Person in order for SS&C to provide the Services.
3.6. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, so long as they act in good faith SS&C Associates shall be entitled to rely on the authenticity, completeness and accuracy of any and all information and communications of whatever nature received by SS&C Associates in connection with the performance of the Services and SS&C’s duties and obligations hereunder, without further enquiry or liability.
4. Term
4.1. Subject to the right to terminate in accordance with Section 5.1 below, the initial term of this Agreement will be from the Effective Date through the date ending five (5) years following the Effective Date. Thereafter, this Agreement will automatically renew for successive terms of two (2) years each.
5. Termination
5.1. In addition to termination under Section 4.1, SS&C or Fund also may, by written notice to the other, terminate this Agreement if any of the following events occur:
(a) The other Party breaches any material term, condition or provision of this Agreement, which breach, if capable of being cured, is not cured within 30 calendar days after the non-breaching Party gives the other Party written notice of such breach.
(b) The other Party (i) terminates or suspends its business, (ii) becomes insolvent, admits in writing its inability to pay its debts as they mature, makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or becomes subject to direct control of a trustee, receiver or analogous authority, (iii) becomes subject to any bankruptcy, insolvency or analogous proceeding, (iv) where the other Party becomes subject to a material Action involving fraud or criminal activity that could cause the terminating Party reputational harm, provided that where the other Party is SS&C such material action is specifically with respect to SS&C’s actions or inactions in its capacity as a fund administrator, or (v) where the other Party is Fund, material changes in Fund’s Governing Documents or the assumptions set forth in Section 1 of Schedule B are determined by SS&C, in its reasonable discretion, to materially affect the Services or to be materially adverse to SS&C.
(c) SS&C or Fund delivers not less than six months’ written notice of termination to the other Party.
If any such event occurs, the termination will become effective immediately or on the date stated in the written notice of termination, which date shall not be greater than 90 calendar days after the event.
5.2. Reserved
5.3. Upon delivery of a termination notice, subject to the receipt by SS&C of all then-due fees, charges and expenses incurred up to the effective date of termination or otherwise owed per the Agreement, SS&C shall continue to provide the Services up to the effective date of the termination notice; thereafter, SS&C shall have no obligation to perform any services of any type unless and to the extent set forth in an amendment to Schedule A executed by SS&C. In the event of the termination of this Agreement, SS&C shall provide exit assistance by promptly supplying requested Client Data to the applicable Fund or Management entity to which the Client Data relate, or any other Person(s) designated by such entities, in formats already prepared in the course of providing the Services; provided that all fees, charges and expenses have been paid, including any minimum fees set forth in Schedule B for the balance of the unexpired portion of the Term unless the Agreement is terminated by Fund or Management accordance with 5.1(a) or 13.2. In the event that Fund or Management wishes to retain SS&C to perform additional transition or related post- termination services, including providing data and reports in new formats, the applicable entity and SS&C shall agree in writing to the additional services and related fees and expenses in an amendment to Schedule A and/or Schedule B, as appropriate.
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5.4. Termination of this Agreement shall not affect: (i) any liabilities or obligations of any Party arising before such termination (including payment of fees and expenses) or (ii) any damages or other remedies to which a Party may be entitled for breach of this Agreement or otherwise. Sections 2.2., 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 of this Agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement. To the extent any services that are Services are performed by SS&C for Fund or Management after the termination of this Agreement all of the provisions of this Agreement except Schedule A shall survive the termination of this Agreement for so long as those services are performed.
6. Limitation of Liability and Indemnification
6.1. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary SS&C Associates shall not be liable to Fund or Management for any action or inaction of any SS&C Associate except to the extent of direct Losses finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted solely from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or fraud of SS&C in the performance of SS&C’s duties or obligations under this Agreement. Except with respect to all amounts payable by Fund as part of its indemnification obligations under this Section 6, in no event shall either Party be liable to the other Party for Losses that are indirect, special, incidental, consequential, punitive, exemplary or enhanced or that represent lost profits, opportunity costs or diminution of value. Each Fund shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless SS&C Associates from and against Losses (including legal fees and costs to enforce this provision) that SS&C Associates suffer, incur, or pay as a result of any Third Party Claim, except to the extent it is finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that such Losses resulted solely from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or fraud of SS&C Associates in the performance of SS&C’s duties or obligations under this Agreement. Any expenses (including legal fees and costs) incurred by SS&C Associates in defending or responding to any Claims (or in enforcing this provision) shall be paid by Fund on a quarterly basis prior to the final disposition of such matter upon receipt by Fund of an undertaking by SS&C to repay such amount if it shall be determined that an SS&C Associate is not entitled to be indemnified. The maximum amount of cumulative liability of SS&C Associates to Fund for Losses arising out of the subject matter of, or in any way related to, this Agreement, except to the extent of Losses resulting solely from the willful misconduct or fraud of SS&C in the performance of SS&C’s duties or obligations under this Agreement, shall not exceed the fees paid by Fund to SS&C under this Agreement for the most recent 24 months immediately preceding the date of the event giving rise to the Claim, or if this Agreement had been effective for less than 24 months, the average monthly fees payable since the Effective Date times 24.
7. Representations and Warranties
7.1. Each Party represents and warrants to each other Party that:
(a) It is a legal entity duly created, validly existing and in good standing under the Law of the jurisdiction in which it is created, and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction where the failure to be in good standing would have a material adverse effect on its business or its ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
(b) Save for access to and delivery of Market Data that is dependent on Data Suppliers and may be interrupted or discontinued with or without notice, it has all necessary legal power and authority to own, lease and operate its assets and to carry on its business as presently conducted and as it will be conducted pursuant to this Agreement and will comply in all material respects with all Law to which it may be subject, and to the best of its knowledge and belief, it is not subject to any Action that would prevent it from performing its duties and obligations under this Agreement.
(c) It has all necessary legal power and authority to enter into this Agreement, the execution of which has been duly authorized and will not violate the terms of any other agreement.
(d) The Person signing on its behalf has the authority to contractually bind it to the terms and conditions in this Agreement and that this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of it, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.
7.2. Management represents and warrants to SS&C that (i) it has actual authority to provide instructions and directions on behalf of Management and Fund and that all such instructions and directions are consistent with the Governing Documents of Fund and Management and other corporate actions thereof; (ii) it is a statutory trust duly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of Delaware and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as a closed-end management investment company; (iii) it is empowered under applicable laws and by its Declaration of Trust and By-laws (together, the “Organizational Documents”) to enter into and perform this Agreement; (iv) the Board of Trustees of Fund has duly authorized it to enter into and perform this Agreement; and (iv) it will promptly notify SS&C of (1) any Action against it and (2) changes (or pending changes) in applicable Law with respect to Management that are relevant to the Services.
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8. Client Data
8.1. Fund and Management (i) will provide or ensure that other Persons provide all Client Data to SS&C in an electronic format that is acceptable to SS&C (or as otherwise agreed in writing) and (ii) confirm that each has the right to so share such Client Data. As between SS&C and Fund or Management, all Client Data shall remain the property of the applicable Fund or Management entity to which such Client Data relate. Client Data shall not be used or disclosed by SS&C other than in connection with providing the Services and as permitted under Section 11.2. SS&C shall be permitted to act upon instructions from Management with respect to the disclosure or disposition of Client Data related to Fund, but may refuse to act upon such instructions where it doubts, in good faith, the authenticity or authority of such instructions.
8.2. SS&C shall maintain and store material Client Data used in the official books and records of Fund for a rolling period of 7 years starting from the Effective Date, or such longer period as required by applicable Law or its internal policies.
9. Data Protection
9.1. From time to time and in connection with the Services, SS&C may obtain access to certain personal data from Fund, Management or from Fund investors and prospective investors and, if applicable, as Processor of the Fund. Personal data relating to Fund, Management and their respective Affiliates, members, shareholders, directors, officers, partners, employees and agents and of Fund investors or prospective investors will be processed by and on behalf of SS&C. Each Fund and Management entity consents to the transmission and processing of such data outside the jurisdiction governing this Agreement in accordance with applicable Law. SS&C only transfers Personal Data to Affiliates that have executed a data transfer agreement containing the European Union model clauses in accordance with GDPR (deemed equivalent in the Cayman Islands for the purpose of DPL).
(a) If Fund or Management is deemed to be a Controller, as notified by it to SS&C, then: (i) SS&C will comply with its applicable obligations as a Processor under DPL and GDPR, including those requirements set out in Articles 28 (Processor), 29 (Processing under the authority of the controller or processor), 31 (Cooperation with the supervisory authority) and 32 (Security of processing) of GDPR, (ii) SS&C will notify Fund or Management without undue delay after becoming aware of a relevant Personal Data breach and provide reasonable assistance to Fund or Management (as applicable) in its notification of that Personal Data breach to the relevant supervisory authority and those data subjects affected as set out in Articles 33 (Notification of a personal data breach to the supervisory authority) and 34 (Communication of a personal data breach to the data subject) of GDPR and the equivalent provisions of DPL, and (iii) SS&C will not disclose or use Personal Data obtained from or on behalf of Fund or Management except in accordance with the lawful instructions Fund or Management (as applicable), to carry out SS&C’s obligations under, or as otherwise permitted pursuant to the terms of, its agreements with Fund or Management (as applicable) and to comply with applicable Law, including GDPR and DPL.
(b) If Fund or Management is deemed to be a Controller, as notified by it to SS&C, then it will ensure that all relevant Personal Data subjects for whom SS&C will process Personal Data on their behalf as contemplated by its agreement(s) with them are fully informed concerning such processing, including, where relevant, the processing of such data outside the European Union and the Cayman Islands and if applicable provide GDPR and/or DPL compliant consent.
9.2. The Fund acknowledges that SS&C intends to develop and offer analytics-based products and services for its customers. In providing such products and services, SS&C will be using consolidated data across all clients, including data of the Fund, and make such consolidated data available to clients of the analytics products and services. The Fund hereby consents to the use by SS&C of Fund Confidential Information (including anonymized shareholder information) in the offering of such products and services, and to disclose the results of such analytics services to its customers and other third parties, provided the information will be aggregated, anonymized and may be enriched with external data sources. SS&C will not disclose shareholder names or other personal identifying information, or information specific to or identifying the Fund or any information in a form or manner which could reasonably be utilized to readily determine the identity of the Fund or its shareholders.
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10. SS&C Property
10.1. SS&C Property is and shall remain the property of SS&C or, when applicable, its Affiliates or suppliers. Neither Fund nor Management nor any other Person shall acquire any license or right to use, sell, disclose, or otherwise exploit or benefit in any manner from, any SS&C Property, except as specifically set forth herein. Fund and Management shall not (unless required by Law, regulation, pursuant to legal process or requested by any Government Authority, per Section 11.2) either before or after the termination of this Agreement, disclose to any Person not authorized by SS&C to receive the same, any information concerning the SS&C Property and shall use reasonable efforts to prevent any such disclosure.
11. Confidentiality
11.1. Each Party shall not at any time disclose to any Person any Confidential Information concerning the business, affairs, customers, clients or suppliers of the other Party or its Affiliates, except as permitted by this Section 11.
11.2. Each Party may disclose the other Party’s Confidential Information:
| (a) | In the case of Fund or Management, to each of its Affiliates, members, shareholders, directors, officers, partners, employees and agents (“Fund Representative”) who need to know such information for the purpose of carrying out its duties under, or receiving the benefits of or enforcing, this Agreement. Fund and Management shall ensure compliance by Fund Representatives with Section 11.1. |
| (b) | In the case of SS&C, to Fund and Management and each SS&C Associate, Fund Representative, investor, Fund or Management bank or broker, Fund or Management counterparty or agent thereof, or payment infrastructure provider who needs to know such information for the purpose of carrying out SS&C’s duties under or enforcing this Agreement. SS&C shall ensure compliance by SS&C Associates with Section 11.1 but shall not be responsible for such compliance by any other Person. |
| (c) | As may be required by Law or pursuant to legal process; provided that the disclosing Party (i) where reasonably practicable and to the extent legally permissible, provides the other Party with prompt written notice of the required disclosure so that the other Party may seek a protective order or take other analogous action, (ii) discloses no more of the other Party’s Confidential Information than reasonably necessary and (iii) reasonably cooperates with actions of the other Party in seeking to protect its Confidential Information at that Party’s expense. |
11.3. Neither Party shall use the other Party’s Confidential Information for any purpose other than to perform its obligations under this Agreement. Each Party may retain a record of the other Party’s Confidential Information for the longer of (i) 7 years or (ii) as required by Law or its internal policies.
11.4. SS&C’s ultimate parent company is subject to U.S. federal and state securities Law and may make disclosures as it deems necessary to comply with such Law. SS&C shall have no obligation to use Confidential Information of, or data obtained with respect to, any other client of SS&C in connection with the Services.
11.5. Upon the prior written consent of Management, SS&C shall have the right to identify Fund or Management in connection with its marketing-related activities and in its marketing materials as a client of SS&C. Upon the prior written consent of SS&C, Fund or Management shall have the right to identify SS&C and to describe the Services and the material terms of this Agreement in the offering documents of Fund. This Agreement shall not prohibit SS&C from using any Fund or Management data (including Client Data) in tracking and reporting on SS&C’s clients generally or making public statements about such subjects as its business or industry; provided that neither Fund nor Management is named in such public statements without its prior written consent and that any such Fund or Management data or Client Data presented in such public statements is presented on an aggregated and anonymized basis unless otherwise agreed to in advance in writing by Management. If the Services include the distribution by SS&C of notices or statements to investors, SS&C may, upon advance notice to Fund, include reasonable notices describing those terms of this Agreement relating to SS&C and its liability and the limitations thereon; if investor notices are not sent by SS&C but rather by Fund or some other Person, Fund will reasonably cooperate with any request by SS&C to include such notices. Neither Fund nor Management shall, in any communications with any Person, whether oral or written, make any representations stating or implying that SS&C is (i) providing valuations with respect to the securities, products or services of Fund or Management, or verifying any valuations, (ii) verifying the existence of any assets in connection with the investments, products or services of Fund or Management, or (iii) acting as a fiduciary, investment advisor, tax preparer or advisor, custodian or bailee with respect to Fund, Management or any of their respective assets, investors or customers.
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12. Notices
12.1. Except as otherwise provided herein, all notices required or permitted under this Agreement or required by Law shall be effective only if in writing and delivered: (i) personally, (ii) by registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, (iii) by receipted prepaid courier, or (iv) by any electronic mail, to the relevant address or number listed below (or to such other address or number as a Party shall hereafter provide by notice to the other Parties). Notices shall be deemed effective when received by the Party to whom notice is required to be given. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no notice sent to either Party shall be deemed effective unless such notice or a copy thereof is sent by e-mail to the email addresses listed below.
If to SS&C:
ALPS Fund Services, Inc.
1290 Broadway, Suite 1000
Denver, CO 80203
Attention: General Counsel
E-mail: notices@sscinc.com
If to Fund or Management:
MVP Private Markets Fund
c/o Portfolio Advisors, LLC
9 Old Kings Highway South
Darien, Connecticut 06820
Attention: Daniel Iamiceli, Chief Financial Officer - Funds
Tel: +1 (203) 662-3456
E-mail: mvpprivatemarkets@portad.com; PAFinance@portad.com; blindberg@portad.com; and legal@portad.com, or to such other address as Fund or Management may designate to SS&C in writing.
13. Miscellaneous
13.1. Amendment; Modification. This Agreement may not be amended or modified except in writing signed by an authorized representative of each Party. No SS&C Associate has authority to bind SS&C in any way to any oral covenant, promise, representation or warranty concerning this Agreement, the Services or otherwise.
13.2. Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any rights under this Agreement may be assigned or otherwise transferred by Fund or Management, in whole or in part, whether directly or by operation of Law, without the prior written consent of SS&C, which consent shall not be unreasonably denied, delayed or conditioned. SS&C may assign or otherwise transfer this Agreement: (i) to a successor in the event of a change in control of SS&C, (ii) to an Affiliate or (iii) in connection with an assignment or other transfer of a material part of SS&C’s business. Any attempted delegation, transfer or assignment prohibited by this Agreement shall be null and void. If SS&C assigns or otherwise transfers this Agreement to a third-party other than an Affiliate without Fund or Management consent, Fund or Management may terminate this Agreement by written notice to SS&C within 90 days of receiving notice of such assignment or transfer, subject to SS&C’s right within 30 calendar days of such notice to rescind such assignment or transfer.
13.3. Choice of Law; Choice of Forum. This Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with and governed by the Law of the State of New York. The courts of the State of New York and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any Claim. Each Party submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts and waives to the fullest extent permitted by Law all rights to a trial by jury.
13.4. Counterparts; Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which when so executed will be deemed to be an original. Such counterparts together will constitute one agreement. Signatures may be exchanged via electronic mail and shall be binding to the same extent as if original signatures were exchanged.
13.5. Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including any schedules, attachments, amendments and addenda hereto) contains the entire agreement of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all previous communications, representations, understandings and agreements, either oral or written, between the Parties with respect thereto. This Agreement sets out the entire liability of SS&C Associates related to the Services and the subject matter of this Agreement.
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13.6. Force Majeure. No Party will be responsible for any Losses of property in its possession or for any failure to fulfill its duties or obligations hereunder if such Loss or failure is caused, directly or indirectly, by war, terrorist or analogous action, the act of any Government Authority or other authority, riot, civil commotion, rebellion, storm, accident, fire, lockout, strike, power failure, computer error or failure, delay or breakdown in communications or electronic transmission systems, or other analogous events. Each Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to minimize the effects on the Services of any such event, including maintaining procedures for safekeeping and security of information relating to the other Party.
13.7. Non-Exclusivity. The duties and obligations of SS&C hereunder shall not preclude SS&C from providing services of a comparable or different nature to any other Person. Fund and Management understand that SS&C may have relationships with Data Suppliers and providers of technology, data or other services to Fund or Management and SS&C may receive economic or other benefits in connection with the Services provided hereunder.
13.8. No Partnership. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to, or shall be deemed to, constitute a partnership or joint venture of any kind between or among any of the Parties.
13.9. No Solicitation. During the term of this Agreement and for a period of 3 months thereafter, each Party will directly or indirectly solicit the services of, or otherwise attempt to employ or engage any employee of the other Party or its Affiliates who has been materially involved in the provisions, or receipt and consumption, of the Services without the consent of the other Party; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prevent a Party from soliciting employees through general advertising not targeted specifically at any or all SS&C Associates or Fund’s or Management’s employees.
13.10. No Warranties. Except as expressly listed herein, SS&C and each Data Supplier make no warranties, whether express, implied, contractual or statutory with respect to the Services or Market Data. SS&C disclaims all implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose with respect to the Services. All warranties, conditions and other terms implied by Law are, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, excluded from this Agreement.
13.11. Severance. If any provision (or part thereof) of this Agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the provision shall be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid, legal and enforceable. If such modification is not practical, the relevant provision shall be deemed deleted. Any such modification or deletion of a provision shall not affect the validity, legality and enforceability of the rest of this Agreement. If a Party gives notice to another Party of the possibility that any provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the Parties shall negotiate to amend such provision so that, as amended, it is valid, legal and enforceable and achieves the intended commercial result of the original provision.
13.12. Testimony. If SS&C is required by a third party subpoena or otherwise, to produce documents, testify or provide other evidence regarding the Services, this Agreement or the operations of Fund in any Action to which Fund or Management is a party or otherwise related to Fund or Management, Fund and Management shall reimburse SS&C for all costs and expenses, including the time of its professional staff at SS&C’s standard rates and the cost of legal representation, that SS&C reasonably incurs in connection therewith, except to the extent that such Action, costs or expenses relate to a SS&C Associate’s or a SS&C employee’s gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or material breach of this Agreement.
13.13. Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is entered into for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Parties and will not be interpreted in such a manner as to give rise to or create any rights or benefits of or for any other Person except as set forth with respect to SS&C Associates and Data Suppliers.
13.14. Waiver. No failure or delay by a Party to exercise any right or remedy provided under this Agreement or by Law shall constitute a waiver of that or any other right or remedy, nor shall it prevent or restrict the further exercise of that or any other right or remedy. No exercise (or partial exercise) of such right or remedy shall prevent or restrict the further exercise of that or any other right or remedy.
13.15. Certain Third Party Vendors. Nothing herein shall impose any duty upon SS&C in connection with or make SS&C liable for the actions or omissions to act of the following types of unaffiliated third parties: (a) courier and mail services including but not limited to Airborne Services, Federal Express, UPS and the U.S. Mails, (b) telecommunications companies including but not limited to AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and other delivery, telecommunications and other such companies not under the Party’s reasonable control, and (c) third parties not under the Party’s reasonable control or subcontract relationship providing services to the financial industry generally, such as, by way of example and not limitation, the Depository Trust Clearing Corporation (processing and settlement services), Broadridge Financial Services (investor communications), Fund custodian banks (custody and fund accounting services) and administrators (blue sky and Fund administration services), Data Suppliers, and national database providers such as Choice Point, Acxiom, TransUnion or Lexis/Nexis and any replacements thereof or similar entities, provided, if SS&C selected such company, SS&C shall have exercised due care in selecting the same. Such third party vendors shall not be deemed, and are not, subcontractors for purposes of this Agreement.
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This Agreement has been entered into by the Parties as of the Effective Date.
| ALPS Fund Services, Inc. | MVP Private Markets Fund |
| DST Asset Manager Solutions, Inc. |
| By: | By: | |||
| Name: | Name: | |||
| Title: | Title: |
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Schedule A
Services
| A. | General |
| 1. | Any references to Law shall be construed to the Law as amended to the date of the effectiveness of the applicable provision referencing the Law. |
| 2. | As used in this Schedule A, the following terms have the meanings ascribed to them below: |
| (i) | “ACH” shall mean the Automated Clearing House; |
| (ii) | “AML” means anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism. |
| (iii) | “Bank” shall mean a nationally or regionally known banking institution; |
| (iv) | “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; |
| (v) | “DTCC” shall mean the Depository Trust Clearing Corporation; |
| (vi) | “investor” or “securityholder” means an equity owner in Fund, whether a shareholder in a company, a partner in a partnership, a unitholder in a trust or otherwise. A “prospective investor” means an applicant to become an investor. |
| (vii) | “IRA” shall mean Individual Retirement Account; |
| (viii) | “NAV” means net asset value. |
| (ix) | “Procedures” shall collectively mean SS&C DST’s transfer agency procedures manual, third party check procedures, checkwriting draft procedures, Compliance + and identity theft programs and signature guarantee procedures; |
(x) “Program” shall mean Networking, Fund Serv or other DTCC program;
(xi) “Sales Feed” shall mean a data file in industry standard format sent by a third party; and
(xii) "TA2000 System" shall mean SS&C DST’s TA2000TM computerized data processing system for shareholder accounting.
| 3. | Any references to Law shall be construed to the Law as amended to the date of the effectiveness of the applicable provision referencing the Law. |
| 4. | Fund acknowledges that SS&C’s ability to perform the Services is subject to the following dependencies (in addition to any others described in the Agreement): |
| (i) | Fund, Management and other Persons that are not employees or agents of SS&C whose cooperation is reasonably required for the SS&C to provide the Services providing cooperation, information and, as applicable, instructions to SS&C promptly, in agreed formats, by agreed media and within agreed timeframes as required to provide the Services. |
| (ii) | The communications systems operated by Fund and other Persons that are not employees or agents of SS&C remaining fully operational. |
(iii) The accuracy and completeness of any Client Data or other information provided to SS&C Associates in connection with the Services by any Person.
| (iv) | Fund and Management informing SS&C on a timely basis of any modification to, or replacement of, any agreement to which it is a party that is relevant to the provision of the Services. |
| (v) | Any warranty, representation, covenant or undertaking expressly made by Fund or Management under or in connection with this Agreement being and remaining true, correct and discharged at all relevant times. |
| (vi) | SS&C’s timely receipt of the then most current version of Fund Governing Documents and required implementation documentation, including authority certificate, profile questionnaire and accounting preferences, and SS&C Web Portal and other application User information. |
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| 5. | Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, SS&C ALPS is responsible for providing the services listed under Section B “SS&C ALPS Fund Administration and Accounting Services and Terms” and under Section C “SS&C ALPS CCO and Terms,” while SS&C DST is responsible for providing the services listed under Section D “DST Shareholder Recordkeeping, Transfer Agency and Investor Relations Services and Terms” and Section E “Blue Sky Services.” |
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| B | SS&C ALPS Fund Administration and Accounting Services and Terms |
The following Services will be performed by SS&C ALPS under this Agreement and, as applicable, are contingent on the performance by Fund of its duties and obligations otherwise contained in this Agreement.
| 1. | Fund Administration |
| (i) | Prepare annual and semi-annual financial statements, utilizing templates for standard layout and printing |
| (ii) | Prepare Forms N-CEN and N-CSR |
| (iii) | File Form N-CEN |
| (iv) | Host annual audits |
| (v) | Prepare required reports for quarterly Board meetings |
| (vi) | Monitor expense ratios |
| (vii) | Maintain budget vs. actual expenses |
| (viii) | Manage fund invoice approval and bill payment process |
| (ix) | Assist with placement of Fidelity Bond and E&O insurance |
| 2. | Fund Accounting |
| (i) | Calculate NAVs as required by the Trust and in conformance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), SEC Regulation S-X (or any successor regulation) and the Internal Revenue Code |
| (ii) | Transmit net asset values to the advisor, NASDAQ, Transfer Agent & other third parties |
| (iii) | Reconcile cash & investment balances with the custodian |
| (iv) | Provide data and reports to support preparation of financial statements and filings |
| (v) | Prepare required Fund Accounting records in accordance with the 1940 Act |
| (vi) | Obtain and apply security valuations as directed and determined by the Fund consistent with the Fund’s pricing and valuation policies |
| (vii) | Participate, when requested, in Fair Value Committee meetings as a non-voting member |
| (viii) | Calculate monthly SEC standardized total return performance figures |
| (ix) | Coordinate reporting to outside agencies including Morningstar, etc |
| (x) | Prepare and file Form N-PORT |
| 3. | Legal Administration |
| (i) | Coordinate the preparation and filing of quarterly repurchase or tender offers |
| (ii) | Preparation of Repurchase Offer Notices (“Notices”) and circulation of notices to client, fund counsel, internal personnel, and Transfer Agent (including drafts); 2 Notices are prepared: a notice for direct shareholders and a notice for shareholders holding through an intermediary |
| (iii) | Coordinate annual updates to prospectus and statement of additional information |
| (iv) | Coordinate standard layout and printing of a Prospectus |
| (v) | File Forms N-CSR, N-PX, and N-23c-3 |
| (vi) | Coordinate EDGARization and filing of SEC documents |
| (vii) | Compile and distribute quarterly board meeting materials |
| (viii) | Attend quarterly board meetings telephonically and prepare first drafts of quarterly meeting minutes |
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| 4. | Tax Administration |
| (i) | Perform pre-trade analysis on illiquid investments to maintain RIC status of fund |
| (ii) | Calculate dividend and capital gain distribution rates |
| (iii) | Prepare ROCSOP and required tax designations for Annual Report |
| (iv) | Prepare and coordinate filing of income and excise tax returns |
| - | Audit firm to sign all returns as paid preparer |
| (v) | Calculate/monitor book-to-tax differences |
| (vi) | Provide quarterly Subchapter M compliance monitoring and reporting |
| (vii) | Provide tax re-allocation data for shareholder 1099 reporting |
| 5. | Compliance Administration |
| (i) | Perform monthly prospectus & SAI, SEC investment restriction monitoring |
| (ii) | Provide warning/Alert notification with supporting documentation |
| (iii) | Calculate section 18 derivative exposure and asset coverage reporting |
| (iv) | Provide quarterly compliance testing certification to Board of Trustees |
| Cayman Subsidiary Services - controlled foreign corporation (“CFC”) |
| a. | Fund Administration |
| (i) | Preparation of consolidated financial statements |
| (ii) | Auditor coordination |
| b. | Fund Accounting |
| (i) | Calculate NAVs daily for the Cayman CFC |
| (ii) | Apply daily NAVs and distributions to the Cayman CFC from Fund |
| (iii) | Apply daily capital stock transactions and/or cash flows as directed by the adviser |
| (iv) | Account for investments in Fund as directed by the adviser |
| (v) | Accrue Cayman CFC expenses as directed by the adviser |
| (vi) | Account for estimated or actual tax liability (if applicable) as directed by the adviser and/or tax agent |
| (vii) | Reconcile cash, investment balances and shares outstanding with the custodian |
| (viii) | Transmit NAVs to the adviser |
| (ix) | Provide data and reports to support preparation of financial statements |
| C | SS&C ALPS CCO Services and Terms |
| 1. | Within this Section C, the following definitions will apply: |
| (i) | “Federal Securities Laws” shall mean the definition as put forth in Rule 38a-1, specifically the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Title V of the Gramm- Leach-Bliley Act, any SEC rules adopted under any of the foregoing laws, the Bank Secrecy Act as it applies to registered investment companies, and any rules adopted thereunder by the SEC or the Department of Treasury. |
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| (ii) | “Material Compliance Matter” shall mean “any compliance matter about which the Fund’s board would reasonably need to know to oversee fund compliance,” which involves any of the following (without limitation): (i) a violation of Federal Securities Laws by the Fund or its service providers (or officers, directors, employees or agents thereof) (ii) a violation of the Compliance Program of the Fund, or the written compliance policies and procedures of its service providers; or (iii) a weakness in the design or implementation of the Compliance Program policies and procedures of the Fund, or the written compliance policies and procedures of the service providers to the Fund. |
| (iii) | “Rule 38a-1” shall mean Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act |
| 2. | All Services described in this Section (the “CCO Services”) are optional and only apply upon the request of Fund that SS&C ALPS provide such CCO Services and the written acceptance of such request by SS&C ALPS. SS&C ALPS requires 120 days’ notice prior to commencement of provision of such CCO Services, which time period may be reduced upon mutual agreement. The Board of Trustees of the Fund may terminate the provision of CCO Services on 120 days written notice to SS&C ALPS. All CCO Services fees described in Fee Letter will continue until the later of 120 days from the receipt of such termination notice or the date that the SS&C ALPS employee no longer serves as the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer. |
| 3. | SS&C ALPS shall designate, subject to the approval of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, one of its own employees to serve as Chief Compliance Officer of the Fund within the meaning of Rule 38a-1 (such individual, the “CCO”). The CCO shall render to the Fund such advice and services as are required to be performed by a CCO under Rule 38a-1 and as are set forth as follows: |
| (i) | Review of Compliance Program. The CCO shall, with the assistance of the Fund, review and revise, where necessary, the written compliance policies and procedures (the “Compliance Program”) of the Fund, which shall address compliance with, and be reasonably designed to prevent violation of, “Federal Securities Laws.” In addition to provisions of Federal Securities Laws that apply to the Fund, the Compliance Program will be revised, where necessary, to address compliance with, and ensure that it is reasonably designed to prevent violation of, the Fund’s charter and by-laws and all exemptive orders, no-action letters and other regulatory relief received by the Fund from the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and Financial Industry Regulatory Association, Inc. (the “FINRA”) (all such items collectively, “Regulatory Relief”); provided, however, that the Compliance Program shall address only that Regulatory Relief afforded the Service Providers or the Fund or relevant to compliance by the Service Providers or the Fund, and shall not address the terms by which other parties may receive the benefits of any Regulatory Relief. |
| (i) | Administration of Compliance Program. The CCO shall administer and enforce the Fund’s Compliance Program. The CCO shall consult with the Board of Trustees and the Fund’s officers as necessary to amend, update and revise the Compliance Program as necessary, but no less frequently than annually (if required). |
| (ii) | Oversight of Service Providers. The CCO is responsible for overseeing, on behalf of the Fund, adherence to the written compliance policies and procedures of the Fund’s service providers, including the Fund, its investment adviser (and sub-adviser, if applicable), the distributor, the administrator, and the transfer agent (the “Service Providers”). In furtherance of this duty: |
| (a) | The CCO shall obtain and review the written compliance policies and procedures of the Service Providers or summaries of such policies that have been drafted by someone familiar with them. |
| (b) | The CCO shall monitor the Service Providers’ compliance with their own written compliance policies and procedures, Federal Securities Laws and the Fund’s Indenture and Regulatory Relief. In so doing, the CCO shall interact with representatives of the Service Providers as appropriate. |
| (c) | The CCO shall attempt to obtain the following representations from each Service Provider and, if it fails to obtain such representations, shall report this fact to the Fund: |
| a. | In connection with the documentation of its written policies and procedures governing the provision of its services to the relevant Fund, the Service Provider has prepared and delivered to the Fund a summary of core services that it provides to the Fund or, if no such summary is available, that it has delivered to the Fund copies of the relevant policies and procedures. |
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| b. | The Service Provider will provide to the Fund and the CCO any revisions to its written compliance policies and procedures on at least an annual basis, or more frequently in the event of a material revision. |
| c. | The Service Provider’s written compliance policies and procedures have been reasonably designed to prevent, detect and correct violations of the applicable Federal Securities Laws and critical functions related to the services performed by Service Provider pursuant to the applicable agreement between the Service Provider and the Fund. |
| d. | The Service Provider has established monitoring procedures, and shall review, no less frequently than annually, the adequacy and effectiveness of its written compliance policies and procedures to check that they are reasonably designed to prevent, detect and correct violations of those applicable Federal Securities Laws and critical functions related to the services performed by the Service Provider pursuant to the applicable agreement between the Service Provider and the Fund. |
| (iii) | Annual Review. Rule 38a-1 requires that, at least annually, the Fund review its Compliance Program and that of its Service Providers and the effectiveness of their respective implementations (the “Annual Review”). The CCO shall perform the Annual Review for the Fund. The first Annual Review shall be completed no later than the regularly scheduled Board meeting following one year after the commencement of the CCO Services. |
| (iv) | Attendance of Board Meetings; Reports to the Fund’s Board; Escalation |
| (d) | The CCO shall attend up to four board meetings per year, including one in person. |
| (e) | The CCO shall make regular reports to the Board of Trustees of the Fund regarding its administration and enforcement of the Compliance Program. These regular reports shall address compliance by the Fund and the Service Providers and such other matters as the Board of Trustees of the Fund may reasonably request. |
| (f) | In addition, at least annually, the CCO shall submit a written report to the Board of Trustees of the Fund addressing the following issues: |
| a. | the operation of the Compliance Program, and the written compliance policies and procedures of the Service Providers; |
| b. | any material changes made to the Compliance Program since the date of the last report; |
| c. | any material changes to the Compliance Program recommended as a result of the Annual Review; and |
| d. | each “Material Compliance Matter” that occurred since the date of the last report. |
| (g) | This written report shall be based on the Annual Review. The first written report shall be presented to the Board of Trustees of the Fund no later than 90 days after the date of the first Annual Review. |
| (h) | The CCO shall report any Material Compliance Matters to the Board of Trustees at least quarterly. |
| (v) | Recordkeeping. The CCO expects to rely on the Fund or its Service Providers, as applicable, to maintain and preserve records. The CCO will determine that the Service Provider has policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that the Fund records will be maintained in accordance with the Fund’s recordkeeping policy and applicable law, including provisions requiring that any material violation of the Fund’s recordkeeping policy and/or applicable law by the service provider be promptly reported to the CCO. |
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| (vi) | Meeting with Regulators. The CCO shall meet with, and reply to inquiries from, the SEC, the Fund and other legal and regulatory authorities with responsibility for administering Federal Securities Laws as necessary or as reasonably requested by Fund or the Board. |
| 4. | The parties agree that only employees of SS&C ALPS and its Affiliates shall act as CCO or otherwise perform services to the Fund under this Agreement unless otherwise agreed to by the Fund. Notwithstanding his/her other duties for SS&C ALPS or any other investment company, the CCO shall perform the Services in a professional manner and shall devote appropriate time, energies and skill to the Services. Fund acknowledges that other employees of SS&C ALPS and its Affiliates will assist the CCO in the performance of his/her duties hereunder. |
| 5. | For clarity, the Fund shall reimburse, or shall cause the Fund to reimburse, SS&C ALPS for all reasonable expenses (including travel expenses for attendance at in-person board meetings) and other out-of-pocket disbursements incurred by SS&C ALPS in connection with the performance of SS&C ALPS’ or the CCO’s duties hereunder. |
| 6. | Fund shall cooperate in good faith with SS&C ALPS and the CCO in order to assist in the performance of the Services. In furtherance of this agreement to cooperate, Fund shall make those of its and its Affiliates’ and Service Providers’, officers, employees, outside counsel and others as may be reasonable related to the Services available for consultation with SS&C ALPS and the CCO, in each case as SS&C ALPS or the CCO may reasonably request. Fund shall provide SS&C ALPS and the CCO with the names of appropriate contact people at the Service Providers and shall otherwise assist SS&C ALPS and the CCO in obtaining the cooperation of the Service Providers. Fund shall provide SS&C ALPS and the CCO with such books and records regarding the Fund as SS&C ALPS and the CCO may reasonably request. |
Notes and Terms to SS&C ALPS Services
| 1. | SS&C ALPS agrees to maintain at all times a program reasonably designed to prevent violations of the federal securities laws (as defined in Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act) with respect to the services provided hereunder, and shall provide to the Fund a certification to such effect no less frequently than annually or as otherwise reasonably requested by the Fund. SS&C ALPS shall make available its compliance personnel and shall provide at its own expense summaries and other relevant materials relating to such program as reasonably requested by the Fund. |
| 2. | Portfolio compliance with: (i) the investment objective and certain policies and restrictions as disclosed in the Fund’s prospectus and statement of additional information, as applicable; and (ii) certain SEC rules and regulations (collectively, “Portfolio Compliance”) is required daily and is the responsibility of the Fund or its Management, as applicable. ALPS will perform Portfolio Compliance testing (post-trade, daily on a T+2 basis) to test the Fund’s Portfolio Compliance (the “Portfolio Compliance Testing”). The frequency and nature of the Portfolio Compliance Testing and the methodology and process in accordance with which the Portfolio Compliance Testing are conducted, are mutually agreed to between ALPS and the Investment Manager. ALPS will report violations, if any, to the Investment Manager and as promptly as practicable following discovery. |
| 3. | SS&C ALPS independently tests Portfolio Compliance based upon information contained in the source reports received by SS&C ALPS’ fund accounting department and supplemental data from certain third-party sources. As such, Portfolio Compliance Testing performed by SS&C ALPS is limited by the information contained in the fund accounting source reports and supplemental data from third-party sources. The Investment Manager agrees and acknowledges that SS&C ALPS’ performance of the Portfolio Compliance Testing shall not relieve the Fund or its Management of their primary day-to-day responsibility for assuring such Portfolio Compliance, including on a pre- trade basis, and SS&C ALPS shall not be held liable for any act or omission of the Fund or its Management (or any other Party) as applicable, with respect to Portfolio Compliance. |
| 4. | The Fund acknowledges that SS&C ALPS may rely on and shall have no responsibility to validate the existence of assets reported by the Fund, its Management, the Fund’s custodian or other Fund service provider, other than SS&C ALPS’ completion of a reconciliation of the assets reported by the Partiers or as otherwise provided for under this Agreement. Except as otherwise provided for herein, the Fund acknowledges that it is the sole responsibility of the Fund to validate the existence of assets reported to SS&C ALPS. SS&C ALPS may rely, and has no duty to investigate the representations of the Fund, its Management, the Fund’s custodian or other Fund service provider. |
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| 5. | SS&C ALPS shall utilize one or more pricing services, as directed by the Fund. The Fund shall identify in writing to SS&C ALPS the pricing service(s) to be utilized on behalf of the Fund. For those securities where prices are not provided by the pricing service(s), the Fund shall approve the method for determining the fair value of such securities and shall determine or obtain the valuation of the securities in accordance with such method and shall deliver to SS&C ALPS the resulting price(s). In the event the Fund desires to provide a price that varies from the price provided by the pricing service(s), the Fund shall promptly notify and supply SS&C ALPS with the valuation of any such security on each valuation date. All pricing changes made by the Fund will be provided to SS&C ALPS in writing or e-mail and must specifically identify the securities to be changed by security identifier, name of security, new price or rate to be applied, and, if applicable, the time period for which the new price(s) is/are effective. |
| D. | SS&C DST Shareholder Recordkeeping, Transfer Agency and Investor Relations Services and Terms |
| 1. | SS&C DST utilizing the TA2000 System will perform the following services: |
| (ii) | issue, transfer and redeem book entry shares or cancelling share certificates as applicable; |
| (i) | maintain shareholder accounts on the records of the Fund on the TA2000 System in accordance with the instructions and information received by SS&C DST from the Fund, the Fund's distributor, manager or managing dealer, the Fund's investment adviser, the Fund’s sponsor, the Fund’s custodian, or the Fund’s administrator and any other person whom the Fund names on Schedule B (each an “Authorized Person”), broker-dealers or shareholders; |
| (ii) | when and if a Fund participates in the DTCC, and to the extent SS&C DST supports the functionality of the applicable DTCC program: |
| (a) | accept and effectuate the registration and maintenance of accounts through the Program and the purchase, redemption, exchange and transfer of shares in such accounts through systems or applications offered via the Program in accordance with instructions transmitted to and received by SS&C DST by transmission from DTCC on behalf of broker-dealers and banks which have been established by, or in accordance with the instructions of, an Authorized Person, on the Dealer File maintained by SS&C DST, |
| (b) | issue instructions to the Funds’ banks for the settlement of transactions between the Funds and DTCC (acting on behalf of its broker-dealer and bank participants), |
| (c) | provide account and transaction information from the Fund’s records on TA2000 in accordance with the applicable Program’s rules, and |
| (d) | maintain shareholder accounts on TA2000 through the Programs; |
| (iii) | provide transaction journals; |
| (iv) | once annually prepare shareholder meeting lists for use in connection with the annual meeting; |
| (v) | Withhold, as required by federal law, taxes on securityholder accounts, perform and pay backup withholding as required for all securityholders, and prepare, file and provide, in electronic format, the applicable U.S. Treasury Department information returns or K-1 data file, as applicable, to Fund’s vendor of choice. |
| (vi) | disburse income dividends and capital gains distributions to shareholders and record reinvestment of dividends and distributions in shares of the Fund; |
| (vii) | prepare and provide, in electronic format, to Fund’s print vendor of choice: |
| (a) | confirmation forms for shareholders for all purchases and liquidations of shares of the Fund and other confirmable transactions in shareholders' accounts, |
| (b) | copies of shareholder statements, and |
| (c) | shareholder reports and prospectuses provided by the Fund; |
| (viii) | provide or make available on-line daily and monthly reports as provided by the TA2000 System and as requested by the Fund or Management; |
| (ix) | maintain those records necessary to carry out SS&C DST's duties hereunder, including all information reasonably required by the Fund to account for all transactions on TA2000 in the Fund shares; |
| (x) | calculate the appropriate sales charge, if applicable and supported by TA2000, with respect to each purchase of the Fund shares as instructed by an Authorized Person, determining the portion of each sales charge payable to the dealer participating in a sale in accordance with schedules and instructions delivered to SS&C DST by the Fund's managing dealer or distributor or any other Authorized Person from time to time, disbursing dealer commissions collected to such dealers, determining the portion of each sales charge payable to such managing dealer and disbursing such commissions to the managing dealer; |
| (xi) | receive correspondence pertaining to any former, existing or new shareholder account, processing such correspondence for proper recordkeeping, and responding to shareholder correspondence; |
| (xii) | arrange the mailing to dealers of confirmations of wire order trades; |
| (xiii) | process, generally on the date of receipt, purchases, redemptions, , or instructions, as applicable, to settle any mail or wire order purchases, redemptions received in proper order as set forth in the prospectus, and reject any requests not received in proper order (as defined by an Authorized Person or the Procedures as hereinafter defined); |
| (xiv) | if a Fund is a registered product, provide to the person designated by an Authorized Person the daily Blue Sky reports generated by the Blue Sky module of TA2000 with respect to purchases of shares of the Fund on TA2000. For clarification, with respect to obligations, the Fund is responsible for any registration or filing with a federal or state government body or obtaining approval from such body required for the sale of shares of the Fund in each jurisdiction in which it is sold. SS&C DST’s sole obligation is to provide the Fund access to the Blue Sky module of TA2000 with respect to purchases of shares of the Fund on TA2000. It is the Fund’s responsibility to validate that the Blue Sky module settings are accurate and complete and to validate the output produced thereby and other applicable reports provided by SS&C DST, to ensure accuracy. SS&C DST is not responsible in any way for claims that the sale of shares of the Fund violated any such requirement (unless such violation results from a failure of the SS&C DST Blue Sky module to notify the Fund that such sales do not comply with the parameters set by the Fund for sales to residents of a given state); |
| (xv) | provide to the Fund escheatment reports as requested by an Authorized Person with respect to the status of accounts and outstanding checks on TA2000; |
| (xvi) | as mutually agreed upon by the parties as to the service scope and fees, answer telephone inquiries during mutually agreed upon times, each day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. SS&C DST shall answer and respond to inquiries from existing shareholders, prospective shareholders of the Fund and broker-dealers on behalf of such shareholders in accordance with the telephone scripts provided by the Fund to SS&C DST, such inquiries may include requests for information on account set-up and maintenance, general questions regarding the operation of the Fund, general account information including dates of purchases, redemptions, exchanges and account balances, requests for account access instructions and literature requests; |
| (xvii) | support Fund repurchase offers, including but not limited to: assistance with shareholder communication plan; coordination of repurchase offer materials; establishment of informational website; receipt, review and reconciliation of letters of transmittal; daily tracking, reconciliation and reporting of shares tendered; and issuing tax forms. |
| (xviii) | in order to assist the Fund with the Fund’s anti-money laundering responsibilities under applicable anti-money laundering laws, SS&C DST offers certain risk-based shareholder activity monitoring tools and procedures that are reasonably designed to: (i) promote the detection and reporting of potential money laundering activities; and (ii) assist in the verification of persons opening accounts with the Fund. If the Fund elects to have SS&C DST implement the anti-money laundering procedures and delegate the day-to-day operation of such anti-money laundering procedures to SS&C DST, the parties will agree to upon the applicable fees and the service scope and execute the attached appendix (“Appendix I” entitled “AML Delegation”) which may be changed from time to time subject to mutual written agreement between the parties; |
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| (xix) | as mutually agreed upon by the Parties as to the service scope and fees, provide any additional related services (i.e., pertaining to escheatments, abandoned property, garnishment orders, bankruptcy and divorce proceedings, Internal Revenue Service or state tax authority tax levies and summonses and all matters relating to the foregoing); and |
| (xx) | upon request of the Fund and mutual agreement between the Parties as to the scope and any applicable fees, SS&C DST may provide additional services to the Fund under the terms of this Schedule and the Agreement. Such services and fees shall be set forth in writing and may be added by an amendment to, or as a statement of work under, this Schedule or the Agreement. |
| 2. | At the request of an Authorized Person, SS&C DST shall use reasonable efforts to provide the services set forth in Section 0.1 of this Schedule A in connection with transactions (i) the processing of which transactions require SS&C DST to use methods and procedures other than those usually employed by SS&C DST to perform shareholder servicing agent services, (ii) involving the provision of information to SS&C DST after the commencement of the nightly processing cycle of the TA2000 System or (iii) which require more manual intervention by SS&C DST, either in the entry of data or in the modification or amendment of reports generated by the TA2000 System than is usually required by normal transactions. |
| 3. | SS&C DST shall use reasonable efforts to provide the same services with respect to any new, additional functions or features or any changes or improvements to existing functions or features as provided for in the Fund's instructions, prospectus or application as amended from time to time, for the Fund, provided SS&C DST is advised in advance by the Fund of any changes therein and the TA2000 System and the mode of operations utilized by SS&C DST as then constituted supports such additional functions and features. If any new, additional function or feature or change or improvement to existing functions or features or new service or mode of operation measurably increases SS&C DST's cost of performing the services required hereunder at the current level of service, SS&C DST shall advise the Fund of the amount of such increase and if the Fund elects to utilize such function, feature or service, SS&C DST shall be entitled to increase its fees by the amount of the increase in costs. |
| 4. | The Fund acknowledges that SS&C DST is currently using, and will continue to use, SS&C Affiliates to assist with software development and support projects for SS&C DST and/or for the Fund. As part of such support, the Fund acknowledges that such SS&C Affiliates may access the Fund Confidential Information including, but not limited to, personally identifiable shareholder information (shareholder name, address, social security number, account number, etc.). |
| 5. | The Fund shall add all new funds to the TA2000 System upon at least 60 days’ prior written notice to SS&C DST provided that the requirements of the new funds are generally consistent with services then being provided by SS&C DST under the Agreement. If less than 60 days’ prior notice is provided by the Fund, additional ‘rush’ fees may be applied by SS&C DST. Rates or charges for additional funds shall be as set forth in Fee Letter for the remainder of the contract term except as such funds use functions, features or characteristics for which SS&C DST has imposed an additional charge as part of its standard pricing schedule. In the latter event, rates and charges shall be in accordance with SS&C DST's then-standard pricing schedule. |
| 6. | The parties agree that to the extent that SS&C DST provides any services under the Agreement that relate to compliance by the Fund with the Code (or any other applicable tax law), it is the parties’ mutual intent that SS&C DST will provide only printing, reproducing, and other mechanical assistance to the Fund and that SS&C DST will not make any judgments or exercise any discretion of any kind. The Fund agrees that it will provide express and comprehensive instructions to SS&C DST in connection with all of the services that are to be provided by SS&C DST under the Agreement that relate to compliance by the Fund with the Code (or any other applicable tax law), including providing responses to requests for direction that may be made from time to time by SS&C DST of the Fund in this regard. |
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| 7. | The Fund instructs and authorizes SS&C DST to provide the services as set forth in the Agreement in connection with transactions on behalf of certain IRAs featuring the funds made available by the Fund. The Fund acknowledges and agrees that as part of such services, SS&C DST will act as service provider to the custodian for such IRAs. |
| 8. | Upon receipt of a Fund’s written request, SS&C DST shall provide transmissions of shareholder activity to the print vendor selected by the Fund. |
| 9. | Shares of stock will be transferred in accordance with the instructions of the shareholders and, upon receipt of the Fund’s instructions that shares of stock be redeemed and funds remitted therefor, such redemptions will be accomplished and payments dispatched provided the shareholder instructions are deemed by SS&C DST to be duly authorized. SS&C DST reserves the right to refuse to transfer, exchange, sell or redeem shares as applicable, until it is satisfied that the request is authorized, or instructed by the Fund. |
| 10. | Changes and Modifications. |
| (iii) | SS&C DST shall have the right, at any time, to modify any systems, programs, procedures or facilities used in performing its obligations hereunder; provided that the Fund will be notified as promptly as possible prior to implementation of such modifications and that no such modification or deletion shall materially adversely change or affect the operations and procedures of the Fund in using the TA2000 System hereunder, the Services or the quality thereof, or the reports to be generated by such system and facilities hereunder, unless the Fund is given thirty (30) days’ prior notice to allow the Fund to change its procedures and SS&C DST provides the Fund with revised operating procedures and controls. |
| (i) | All enhancements, improvements, changes, modifications or new features added to the TA2000 System however developed or paid for, including, without limitation, Client Requested Software (collectively, “Deliverables”), shall be, and shall remain, the confidential and exclusive property of, and proprietary to, SS&C DST. The parties recognize that during the Term of this Agreement the Fund will disclose to SS&C DST Confidential Information and SS&C DST may partly rely on such Confidential Information to design, structure or develop one or more Deliverables. Provided that, as developed, such Deliverable(s) contain no Confidential Information that identifies the Fund or any of its investors or which could reasonably be expected to be used to readily determine such identity, (i) the Fund hereby consents to SS&C DST’s use of such Confidential Information to design, to structure or to determine the scope of such Deliverable(s) or to incorporate into such Deliverable(s) and that any such Deliverable(s), regardless of who paid for it, shall be, and shall remain, the sole and exclusive property of SS&C DST and (ii) the Fund hereby grants SS&C DST a perpetual, nonexclusive license to incorporate and retain in such Deliverable(s) Confidential Information of the Fund. All Confidential Information of the Fund shall be and shall remain the property of the Fund. |
| 11. | Fund Obligations. |
| (i) | The Fund agrees to use its reasonable efforts to deliver to SS&C DST in Kansas City, Missouri, as soon as they are available, all of its shareholder account records. |
| (ii) | The Fund will provide SS&C DST written notice of any change in Authorized Personnel as set forth on Schedule B. |
| (iii) | The Fund will notify SS&C DST of material changes to its Articles of Incorporation, Declaration of Trust, Bylaws or similar governing document (e.g. in the case of recapitalization) that impacts the services provided by SS&C DST under the Agreement. |
| (iv) | If at any time the Fund receives notice or becomes aware of any stop order or other proceeding in any such state affecting such registration or the sale of the Fund's shares, or of any stop order or other proceeding under the federal securities laws affecting the sale of the Fund's shares, the Fund or Sponsor will give prompt notice thereof to SS&C DST. |
| (v) | The Fund shall not enter into one or more omnibus, third-party sub-agency or sub accounting agreements with (i) unaffiliated third-party broker/dealers or other financial intermediaries who have a distribution agreement with the affected Funds or (ii) third party administrators of group retirement or annuity plans, unless the Fund either (1) provides SS&C DST with a minimum of 12 months’ notice before the accounts are deconverted from SS&C DST, or (2), if 12 months’ notice is not possible, Fund shall compensate SS&C DST by paying a one-time termination fee equal to $0.10 per deconverted account per month for every month short of the 12 months’ notice in connection with each such deconversion. |
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| 12. | Compliance. |
| (i) | SS&C DST shall perform the services under this Schedule A in conformance with SS&C DST's present procedures as set forth in its Procedures with such changes or deviations therefrom as may be from time to time required or approved by the Fund, its investment adviser or managing dealer, or its or SS&C DST's counsel and the rejection of orders or instructions not in good order in accordance with the applicable prospectus or the Procedures. Notwithstanding the foregoing, SS&C DST’s obligations shall be solely as are set forth in this Schedule and any of other obligations of the Fund under applicable law that SS&C DST has not agreed to perform on the Fund’s behalf under this Schedule or the Agreement shall remain the Fund’s sole obligation.. |
| 13. | Bank Accounts. |
| (iv) | SS&C DST, acting as agent for the Fund, is authorized (1) to establish in the name of, and to maintain on behalf of, the Fund, on the usual terms and conditions prevalent in the industry, including limits or caps (based on fees paid over some period of time or a flat amount, as required by the affected Bank on the maximum liability of such Banks into which SS&C DST shall deposit the funds SS&C DST receives for payment of dividends, distributions, purchases of Fund shares, redemptions of Fund shares, commissions, corporate re-organizations (including recapitalizations or liquidations) or any other disbursements made by SS&C DST on behalf of the Fund provided for in this Schedule A, (2) to draw checks upon such accounts, to issue orders or instructions to the Bank for the payment out of such accounts as necessary or appropriate to accomplish the purposes for which such funds were provided to SS&C DST, and (3) to establish, to implement and to transact Fund business through ACH, draft processing, wire transfer and any other banking relationships, arrangements and agreements with such Bank as are necessary or appropriate to fulfill SS&C DST’s obligations under the Agreement. SS&C DST, acting as agent for the Fund, is also hereby authorized to execute on behalf and in the name of the Fund, on the usual terms and conditions prevalent in the industry, including limits or caps (based on fees paid over some period of time or a flat amount, as required by the affected Bank) on the maximum liability of such Banks, agreements with banks for ACH, wire transfer, draft processing services, as well as any other services which are necessary or appropriate for SS&C DST to utilize to accomplish the purposes of this Schedule. In each of the foregoing situations the Fund shall be liable on such agreements with the Bank as if it itself had executed the agreement. |
| (i) | SS&C DST is authorized and directed to stop payment of checks theretofore issued hereunder, but not presented for payment, when the payees thereof allege either that they have not received the checks or that such checks have been mislaid, lost, stolen, destroyed or through no fault of theirs, are otherwise beyond their control, and cannot be produced by them for presentation and collection, and, to issue and deliver duplicate checks in replacement thereof. |
| 14. | Records. SS&C DST will maintain customary transfer agent records in connection with its agency in accordance with the transfer agent recordkeeping requirements under the 1934 Act, and particularly will maintain those records required to be maintained pursuant to subparagraph (2) (iv) of paragraph (b) of Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act, if any. Notwithstanding anything in the Agreement to the contrary, the records to be maintained and preserved by SS&C DST on the TA2000 System under the Agreement shall be maintained and preserved in accordance with the following: |
| (v) | Annual purges by August 31: SS&C DST and the Fund shall mutually agree upon a date for the annual purge of the appropriate history transactions from the Transaction History (A88) file for accounts (both regular and tax advantaged accounts) that were open as of January 1 of the current year, such purge to be complete no later than August 31. Purges completed after this date will subject the Fund to the Aged History Retention fees set forth in the Fee Schedule attached hereto as Fee Letter. |
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| (vi) | Purge criteria: In order to avoid the Aged History Retention fees, history data for regular or ordinary accounts (that is, non-tax advantaged accounts) must be purged if the confirmation date of the history transaction is prior to January 1 of the current year and history data for tax advantaged accounts (retirement and educational savings accounts) must be purged if the confirmation date of the history transaction is prior to January 1 of the prior year. All purged history information shall be retained on magnetic tape for seven (7) years. |
| (vii) | Purged history retention options (entail an additional fee): For the additional fees set forth on the Fee Schedule attached hereto as Fee Letter, or as otherwise mutually agreed, then Fund may choose (i) to place purged history information on the Purged Transaction History (A19) table or (ii) to retain history information on the Transaction History (A88) file beyond the timeframes defined above. Retaining information on the A19 table allows for viewing of this data through online facilities and E-Commerce applications. This database does not support those histories being printed on statements and reports and is not available for on request job executions. |
| 15. | Disposition of Books, Records and Canceled Certificates. SS&C DST may send periodically to the Fund, or to where designated by the Fund, all books, documents, and all records no longer deemed needed for current purposes, upon the understanding that such books, documents, and records will be maintained by the Fund under and in accordance with the requirements of applicable federal securities laws. Such materials will not be destroyed by the Fund without the consent of SS&C DST (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld), but will be safely stored for possible future reference. |
| E. | Blue Sky Services (applicable to Closed End RIC Fund only) |
| 1. | Management Responsibilities. In connection with the provision of the Services by SS&C DST, Management shall: |
| (i) | Identify the states and territories where the Fund’s shares will be offered for sale; |
| (ii) | Determine the availability of any exemptions under a jurisdiction’s Blue Sky laws with the assistance of SS&C DST; |
| (iii) | Work with SS&C DST to identify what systematic exemptions will be taken by the Fund and coded on the Fund’s Transfer Agent’s system; |
| (iv) | Provide written instructions in SS&C DST’ standard format to implement systematic exemptions and exclusions from reporting where practicable on the Fund’s Transfer Agent system or the SS&C DST Blue Sky software system; |
| (v) | Provide written instructions to SS&C DST to remove current permit period sales from SS&C DST’ Blue Sky software database upon determination that such sales qualify for exemptions or exclusion from reporting to the applicable states where registration fees are based on sales; |
| (vi) | Facilitate the issuance of a limited power of attorney in favor of SS&C DST in the form set forth in Appendix I to Schedule A to this Agreement in order that SS&C DST may submit Notice Filings and other filings required by the states and territories and payments with respect thereto on behalf of the Fund; |
| (vii) | To the extent Management is notified by an intermediary of new sales data feeds, notify SS&C DST in writing of any changes to or additions of Blue Sky sales data feeds and work with SS&C DST to facilitate the necessary updates; |
| (viii) | Serve as liaison with the Fund to facilitate the transmission of wire transfers for payment by the Fund for invoiced state fees as needed; and |
| (ix) | Provide written instruction detailing action to be taken upon receipt of written notification from SS&C DST that a direct broker Blue Sky sales feed is available for activation. |
| 2. | SS&C DST Responsibilities. Upon request and with at least 60 days’ prior written notice by Management, with respect to a particular Fund, SS&C DST will provide Management with Blue Sky services, which will include the following: |
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| (i) | File Initial Notice Filings, as applicable, in all states and territories in which the Fund’s shares will be offered, in the form of and as required by the applicable laws of the states and territories; |
| (ii) | File the Fund’s renewals and amendments to reflect name changes, terminations, domicile changes, issuer address changes, fiscal year end changes, distributor changes, as applicable, in all states and territories in which the Fund’s shares will be offered, in the form of and as required by the applicable laws of the states and territories; |
| (iii) | File the Fund’s sales reports to the extent required by applicable law, in the form of and as required by the applicable laws of the states and territories; |
| (iv) | Invoice the Fund for fees owed to each state in accordance with procedures agreed upon in writing by Fund and SS&C DST; |
| (v) | At the direction of Management, make payments, at the expense of the Fund, of Notice Filing fees; |
| (vi) | File the Prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information and any amendments and supplements thereto to the extent required by the applicable laws of the states and territories; |
| (vii) | File annual reports to the extent required by the applicable laws of the states and territories; |
| (viii) | File all necessary notices to permit the Fund (or class of the Fund, as applicable) that is eligible for reduced fees applicable to money market funds or otherwise to qualify for reduced fees in a state or territory; |
| (ix) | File all correspondence and related documentation so as to provide notice of the Fund’s intent to take exemptions if such notice is required by the state or territory in order to permit the Fund to utilize such exemptions; |
| (x) | Advise Management prior to communicating with the states and territories regarding any sales in excess of the registered amount for a permit so the Fund can advise in writing the action to be taken; |
| (xi) | Provide Management information regarding the Sales to Existing Shareholders Exemptions and the Institutional Investor Exemptions available in the states and territories; |
| (xii) | Include in sales report filings, all sales reported to SS&C DST via (i) transfer agency Blue Sky sales feed and; (ii) broker Blue Sky sales feeds, including, without limitation, feeds that (a) were transferred as part of the conversion from the Fund’s prior Blue Sky vendor, or (b) confirmed in writing by Management to be activated, less any exempt sales that the Fund has directed SS&C DST in writing to remove prior to such filing. |
| (xiii) | At the direction of the Fund, serve as liaison between the Fund and the applicable Blue Sky jurisdiction: |
| (xiv) | Provide information concerning Blue Sky reporting requirements and mutual fund industry Blue Sky reporting practices including utilization of exemptions and intermediary data feeds; |
| (xv) | Conduct annual due diligence reviews; |
| (xvi) | In the event that SS&C DST becomes aware of the sale of the Fund’s shares in a jurisdiction in which no Notice Filing has been made, SS&C DST shall report such information to Management and Management shall instruct SS&C DST with respect to the corrective action to be taken; |
| (xvii) | File all additional amendments to increase registered amounts in accordance with agreed upon procedures in all states and territories in which the Fund’s shares will be offered, in the form of and as required by the applicable laws of the states and territories; and |
| (xviii) | Perform such additional services as SS&C DST and Management may agree upon in writing and added to this Agreement by amendment. |
| F. | Report Modernization Terms and Conditions |
In addition to the terms and conditions of the Agreement, the below terms and conditions apply to the provision of the following Services (the listed Services known as “Modern Data Services”):
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| å | Preparation and Filing of Form N-PORT and Form N-CEN |
| 1. | In connection with completion of the Modern Data Services, Market Data may be supplied to the Fund through an ALPS Associate(s) or directly by a Data Supplier (for the purposes of this appendix, Data Supplier shall include the Data Supplier’s third party suppliers). Any Market Data being provided to a Fund by ALPS or a Data Supplier is being supplied for the sole purpose of assisting the completion of the Modern Data Services. Accordingly, the Fund acknowledges that Market Data is proprietary to ALPS Associates and/or the Data Suppliers and is provided on a limited internal-use license basis. Market Data may not be disseminated by the Fund to any other affiliated or non-affiliated entity, used to populate internal systems or to create a historical database, or for any other purpose in lieu of Fund obtaining a data license from ALPS Associates or Data Supplier, as applicable. The Fund accepts responsibility for, and acknowledges it exercises its own independent judgment in, the selection of the Data Supplier(s) to provide the Market Data, its selection of the use or intended use of such, and any results obtained. Access to and delivery of Market Data is dependent on the Data Suppliers and may be interrupted or discontinued with or without notice to Fund. |
| 2. | The Fund acknowledges that (i) the Market Data is intended for use as an aid to institutional investors, registered brokers or professionals of similar sophistication in making informed judgments concerning characteristics of certain securities; and (ii) the Data Supplier and/or ALPS Associate(s), as applicable, holds all title, license, copyright or similar intellectual property rights in the Market Data. |
| 3. | No ALPS Associate or Data Supplier will have any liability for errors, omissions or malfunctions in the Market Data, except that ALPS will endeavor, upon receipt of notice from the Fund, to correct a malfunction, error, or omission in the Market Data utilized in the Modern Data Services that is identified by Fund. |
| 4. | Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no ALPS Associate nor Data Supplier shall be liable to Fund or any other Person for any Losses related, directly or indirectly, to the Market Data, the provision of (or failure to provide) the Market Data, and/or the reliance by an ALPS Associate(s), Fund or any other Person on such Market Data. Further, the Fund shall indemnify all ALPS Associates and applicable Data Suppliers against, and hold such ALPS Associates and Data Suppliers harmless from, any and all Losses (including legal fees and costs to enforce this provision), that any ALPS Associate(s) or Data Provider suffer, incur, or pay as a result of any Third Party Claim or Claim among the Parties arising out of or related to the Market Data or any data, information, service, report, analysis or publication derived therefrom. |
| 5. | Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, as it relates to the provision of the Modern Data Services, no ALPS Associate nor Data Supplier shall be liable for (i) any special, indirect or consequential damages (even if advised of the possibility of such), (ii) any delay by reason of circumstances beyond its control, including acts of civil or military authority, national emergencies, labor difficulties, fire, mechanical breakdown, flood or catastrophe, acts of God, insurrection, war, riots, or failure beyond its control of transportation or power supply, or (iii) any claim that arose more than one year prior to the institution of suit therefor. |
| 6. | THE FUND ACCEPTS THE MARKET DATA AS IS AND NO ALPS ASSOCIATE OR ANY DATA SUPPLIER MAKE ANY WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS OR ANY OTHER MATTER RELATED TO THE MARKET DATA. |
| G. | Miscellaneous |
| 1. | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, SS&C: |
| (i) | Does not maintain custody of any cash or securities. |
| (ii) | Does not have the ability to authorize transactions. |
| (iii) | Does not have the authority to enter into contracts on behalf of Fund. |
| (iv) | Is not responsible for determining the valuation of Fund’s assets and liabilities. |
| (v) | Does not perform any management functions or make any management decisions with regard to the operation of Fund. |
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| (vi) | Is not Fund’s tax advisor and does not provide any tax advice. |
| (vii) | Is not obligated to perform any additional or materially different services due to changes in law or audit guidance. |
| 2. | If SS&C allows Fund, Management, investors or their respective agents and representatives (“Users”) to (i) receive information and reports from SS&C and/or (ii) issue instructions to SS&C via web portals or other similar electronic mechanisms hosted or maintained by SS&C or its agents (“Web Portals”): |
| (i) | Access to and use of Web Portals by Users shall be subject to the proper use by Users of usernames, passwords and other credentials issued by SS&C (“User Credentials”) and to the additional terms of use that are noticed to Users on such Web Portals. Fund shall be solely responsible for the results of any unauthorized use, misuse or loss of User Credentials by their authorized Users and for compliance by such Users with the terms of use noticed to Users with respect to Web Portals, and shall notify SS&C promptly upon discovering any such unauthorized use, misuse or loss of User Credentials or breach by Fund or their authorized Users of such terms of use. Any change in the status or authority of an authorized User communicated by Fund shall not be effective until SS&C has confirmed receipt and execution of such change. |
| (ii) | SS&C grants to the Fund a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicenseable right during the term of this Agreement to access Web Portals solely for the purpose of accessing Client Data and, if applicable, issue instructions. Fund will ensure that any use of access to any Web Portal is in accordance with SS&C’s terms of use, as noticed to the Users from time to time. This license does not include: (i) any right to access any data other than Client Data; or (ii) any license to any software. |
| (iii) | Fund will not (A) permit any third party to access or use the Web Portals through any time-sharing service, service bureau, network, consortium, or other means; (B) rent, lease, sell, sublicense, assign, or otherwise transfer its rights under the limited license granted above to any third party, whether by operation of law or otherwise; (C) decompile, disassemble, reverse engineer, or attempt to reconstruct or discover any source code or underlying ideas or algorithms associated with the Web Portals by any means; (D) attempt to modify or alter the Web Portal in any manner; or (E) create derivative works based on the web portal. Neither Fund nor Management will remove (or allow to be removed) any proprietary rights notices or disclaimers from the Web Portal or any reports derived therefrom. |
| (iv) | SS&C reserves all rights in SS&C systems and in the software that are not expressly granted to Fund hereunder. |
| (v) | SS&C may discontinue or suspend the availability of any Web Portals at any time without prior notice; SS&C will endeavor to notify Fund as soon as reasonably practicable of such action. |
| 3. | Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Fund has ultimate authority over and responsibility for its tax matters and financial statement tax disclosures. All memoranda, schedules, tax forms and other work product produced by SS&C are the responsibility of Fund and are subject to review and approval by Fund and Fund’s auditors, or tax preparers, as applicable and SS&C bears no responsibility for reliance on tax calculations and memoranda prepared by SS&C. |
| 4. | SS&C shall provide reasonable assistance to responding to due diligence and analogous requests for information from investors and prospective investors (or others representing them); provided, that SS&C may elect to provide these services only upon Fund agreement in writing to separate fees in the event responding to such requests becomes, in SS&C’s sole discretion, excessive. |
| 5. | Reports and information shall be deemed provided to Fund if they are made available to Fund online through SS&C’s portal. |
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SCHEDULE B
AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL
Pursuant to the terms of the Schedule A and the Agreement between the Fund and SS&C DST, the Fund authorizes the following Fund personnel to provide instructions to SS&C DST, and receive inquiries from SS&C DST in connection with Schedule A and the Agreement:
| Name | Title | ||
This Schedule may be revised by the Fund by providing SS&C DST with a substitute Schedule B. Any such substitute Schedule B shall become effective twenty-four (24) hours after SS&C DST's receipt of the document and shall be incorporated into the Agreement.
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APPENDIX I
ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING DELEGATION
| 1. | Delegation. |
| 1.1 | In order to assist the Fund with the Fund’s AML responsibilities under applicable AML laws, SS&C DST offers certain risk-based AML Procedures that are reasonably designed to: (i) promote the detection and reporting of potential money laundering activities; and (ii) assist in the verification of persons opening accounts with the Fund. The Fund has had an opportunity to review the AML Procedures with SS&C DST and desires to implement the AML Procedures as part of the Fund’s overall AML program. |
| 1.2 | Accordingly, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Fund hereby instructs and directs SS&C DST to implement the AML Procedures as set forth in Section 4 below on the Fund’s behalf and delegates to SS&C DST the day-to-day operation of the AML Procedures. The AML Procedures set forth in Section 4 may be amended, from time to time, by mutual agreement of the Fund and SS&C DST upon the execution by such parties of a revised Appendix I bearing a later date than the date hereof. |
| 1.3 | SS&C DST agrees to perform such AML Procedures, with respect to the ownership of interests in the Fund for which SS&C DST maintains the applicable member information, subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement. |
| 2. | Consent to Examination. In connection with the performance by SS&C DST of the AML Procedures, SS&C DST understands and acknowledges that the Fund remains responsible for assuring compliance with the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (“USA PATRIOT Act”) and that the records SS&C DST maintains for the Fund relating to the AML Program may be subject, from time to time, to examination and/or inspection by federal regulators in order that the regulators may evaluate such compliance. SS&C DST hereby consents to such examination and/or inspection and agrees to cooperate with such federal examiners in connection with their review. For purposes of such examination and/or inspection, SS&C DST will use its best efforts to make available, during normal business hours and on reasonable notice all required records and information for review by such examiners. |
| 3. | Limitation on Delegation. The Fund acknowledges and agrees that in accepting the delegation hereunder, SS&C DST is agreeing to perform only the AML Procedures, as may be amended from time to time, and is not undertaking and shall not be responsible for any other aspect of the AML Program or for the overall compliance by the Fund with the USA PATRIOT Act or for any other matters that have not been delegated hereunder. Additionally, the parties acknowledge and agree that SS&C DST shall only be responsible for performing the AML Procedures with respect to the ownership of, and transactions in, Units in the Fund for which SS&C DST maintains the applicable member information. |
| 4. | AML Procedures1 |
| 4.1 | Consistent with the services provided by SS&C DST and with respect to the ownership of units in the Fund for which SS&C DST maintains the applicable member information, SS&C DST shall: |
(a) On a daily basis, submit all new customer account registrations and registration changes against the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) database, the Politically Exposed Persons (“PEP”) database, and such other lists or databases as may be required from time to time by applicable regulatory authorities;
| 1 | The accounts, transactions, items and activity reviewed in each case are subject to certain standard exclusions as set forth in written procedures of SS&C DST, which have been made available to the Fund and which may be modified from time to time. |
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(b) Submit all account registrations through OFAC database, the PEP database, and such other lists or databases as may be required from time to time by applicable regulatory authorities;
(c) On a daily basis, submit special payee information from checks, outgoing wires and systematic withdrawal files through the OFAC database;
(d) Review certain types of redemption transactions that occur within thirty-four (34) days of an account establishment, registration change, or banking information change (e.g. redemption by wire within 34 days of banking information change; rapid depletion of account balance after establishment; and redemption by check within 34 days of address change);
(e) Review wires sent pursuant to banking instructions other than those on file with SS&C DST;
(f) Review accounts with small balances followed by large purchases;
(g) Review accounts with frequent activity within a specified date range followed by a large redemption;
(h) Review purchase and redemption activity by check that meets or exceeds $100,000 threshold on any given day;
(i) Determine when a suspicious activity report (“SAR”) should be filed as required by regulations applicable to mutual funds; prepare and file the SAR; provide the Fund with a copy of the SAR within a reasonable time after filing; and notify the Fund if any further communication is received from the U.S. Department of the Treasury or other law enforcement agencies regarding such filing;
(j) Compare account information to any FinCEN request received by the Fund and provided to SS&C DST pursuant to USA PATRIOT Act Sec. 314(a). Provide the Fund with the necessary information for it to respond to such request within required time frame;
(k) (i) Take reasonable steps to verify the identity of any person seeking to become a new customer of the Fund and notify the Fund in the event such person cannot be verified, (ii) Maintain records of the information used to verify the person’s identity, as required, and (iii) Determine whether the person appears on any lists of known or suspected terrorists or terrorist organizations provided to the Fund by any government agency;
(l) Except with respect to any entities excluded under applicable regulation: (i) take reasonable steps to verify the identity of legal entities seeking to become new customers of the Fund, including verifying the identity of the natural person(s) retaining ownership or controlling interest in such legal entity (the “ Beneficial Owner(s)”), as such ownership and controlling interests are defined in 31 C.F.R. 1010.230, (ii) notify the Fund in the event that the identity of such Beneficial Owner(s) is not provided upon request to such entity or cannot be verified, (iii) maintain records of the information used to verify such Beneficial Owners, as required, and (iv) determine whether such persons appear on any lists of known or suspected terrorists or terrorist organizations provided to the Fund by any government agency;
(m) Conduct due diligence and if required, enhanced due diligence in accordance with 31 C.F.R. 103.176(b) for new and existing correspondent accounts for foreign financial institutions (as defined in 31 C.F.R. 103.175). SS&C DST will perform an assessment of the money laundering risk presented by the account based on a consideration of relevant factors in accordance with applicable law and information provided by the foreign financial institution in a financial institution questionnaire. If an account is determined to have a medium or above risk-ranking, SS&C DST will monitor the account on a monthly basis for unusual activity. In the situation where due diligence cannot be completed with respect to an account, SS&C DST will contact the Fund’s AML Officer for further instruction.
(n) Upon the request by the Fund, conduct due diligence to determine if the Fund is involved with any foreign jurisdiction, institution, class of transactions and a type of account designated, from time to time, by the U.S. Department of Justice in order to identify and take certain “special measures” against such entities as required under Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act (31 C.F.R. 103.193).
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(o) Create and retain records required under 31 CFR 103.33 in connection with the transmittals of funds in amounts equal to or in excess of $3,000, and transmit such information on the transactions to the receiving financial institutions.
| 4.1 | In the event that SS&C DST detects activity as a result of the foregoing procedures, which necessitates the filing by SS&C DST of a SAR or other similar report or notice to OFAC, then SS&C DST shall also immediately notify the Fund, unless prohibited by applicable law. |
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EXPENSE LIMITATION AND REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT
MVP Private Markets Fund
AGREEMENT made as of the __ day of ____, 2021 by and between MVP Private Markets Fund, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Fund”), and Portfolio Advisors, LLC, an investment adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, (the “Adviser”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) as a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company;
WHEREAS, the Adviser acts as investment adviser to the Fund pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement with the Fund dated as of , 2021 (the “Investment Management Agreement”), pursuant to which it is paid an investment management fee (the “Investment Management Fee”);
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the Fund engaging the Adviser pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the parties to this Agreement agree as follows:
| 1. | Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Fund’s Prospectus as currently in effect. |
| 2. | The Adviser agrees to waive the Investment Management Fee and other fees payable to it by the Fund, and to pay or absorb expenses of the Fund (a “Waiver”) so that the Total Annual Expenses of the Fund (excluding taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, certain transaction-related expenses, extraordinary expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, the Investment Management Fee, the Incentive Fee) will not exceed 2.00%, 1.00% and 1.25% of the average daily net assets of Class A Shares, Class I Shares and Class D Shares, respectively, of the Fund on an annualized basis (the “Expense Limitation”). |
| 3. | Unless sooner terminated by the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the “Trustees”) as provided in Paragraph 4 of this Agreement, this Agreement will have a term ending one (1) year from the date that the Fund commences operations. This Agreement will automatically renew for two (2) consecutive one-year terms thereafter, provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Trustees. |
| 4. | This Agreement may be terminated at any time, and without payment of any penalty, by the Trustees, on behalf of the Fund, upon thirty (30) days’ written notice to the Adviser. This Agreement may not be terminated by the Adviser without the consent of the Trustees. |
| 5. | For a period not to exceed (3) three years from the date on which a Waiver is made by the Adviser, the Adviser may recoup amounts waived or assumed, provided it is able to effect such recoupment without causing the Fund’s expense ratio (after recoupment) to exceed the lesser of (a) the expense limit in effect at the time of the waiver, and (b) the expense limit in effect at the time of the recoupment. To the extent that such repayment is due, it shall be made as promptly as possible, in conjunction with the next succeeding payment of the Investment Management Fee to the Adviser. To the extent that the full amount of such waived amount or expense paid cannot be repaid as provided in the previous sentence within such applicable three-year period, such repayment obligation shall be extinguished. |
| 6. | If this Agreement is terminated by the Fund, the Fund agrees to repay to the Adviser any amounts payable pursuant to paragraph 4 that have not been previously repaid and, subject to the 1940 Act, such repayment will be made to the Adviser not later than (3) three years from the date on which a Waiver was made by the Adviser (regardless of the date of termination of this Agreement), so long as the Fund is able to effect such reimbursement and remain in compliance with the Expense Limitation as if such Expense Limitation was still in effect. If this Agreement is terminated by the Adviser, the Fund agrees to repay to the Adviser any amounts payable pursuant to paragraph 4 that have not been previously repaid and, subject to the 1940 Act, such repayment will be made to the Adviser not later than thirty (30) days after the termination of this Agreement, so long as the Fund is able to effect such reimbursement and remain in compliance with the Expense Limitation as if such Expense Limitation was still in effect. |
| 7. | This Agreement will be construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware and the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act. To the extent the applicable law of the State of Delaware, or any of the provisions in this Agreement, conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act will control. |
| 8. | This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties to this Agreement with respect to the matters described in this Agreement. |
[Signature page follows.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties to this Agreement have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
MVP Private markets FUND
| By: | |
| Title: | |
| PORTFOLIO ADVISORS, LLC | |
| By: | |
| Title: |
|
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP One Logan Square, Suite 2000 +1 215 988 2700 main +1 215 988 2757 fax |
November 12, 2021
MVP Private Markets Fund
c/o ALPS Fund Services, Inc.
1290 Broadway, Suite 1000
Denver, CO 80203
| RE: | MVP Private Markets Fund |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to MVP Private Markets Fund (the “Fund”), a Delaware Statutory Trust, in connection with the filing of the Fund’s registration statement on Form N-2, including any amendment thereto (the “Registration Statement”) (File Nos. 333-255412 and 811-23656), to register under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), shares of beneficial interest (the “Shares”) representing interests in the Fund. The Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of Shares.
We have examined the originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws (collectively, the “Governing Documents”) and the resolutions adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the “Resolutions”) relating to the authorization of the sale and issuance of the Shares in a continuous public offering, and have considered such other legal and factual matters as we have deemed appropriate.
In all cases, we have assumed the legal capacity of each natural person signing the Registration Statement, the genuineness of signatures, the authenticity of documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to authentic original documents of documents submitted to us as copies and the accuracy and completeness of all corporate records and other information made available to us by the Fund. We have assumed that the Resolutions will still be in effect at the time the Shares are issued and have not been amended or rescinded. As to questions of fact material to this opinion, we have relied upon the accuracy of any certificates and other comparable documents of officers and representatives of the Fund, upon statements made to us in discussions with the Fund’s management and upon statements and certificates of public officials.
This opinion is based exclusively on the laws of the State of Delaware.
We have assumed the following for this opinion:
1. The Shares will be issued in accordance with the Governing Documents and the Resolutions.
Page 1
2. The Shares will be issued against consideration therefor as described in the Registration Statement, and that such consideration will have been at least equal to the applicable net asset value.
Based on the foregoing, it is our opinion that:
1. The Shares to be issued pursuant to the Registration Statement have been duly authorized for issuance by the Fund; and
2. When issued and paid for upon the terms provided in the Registration Statement, the Shares to be issued pursuant to the Registration Statement will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable by the Fund and that the holders of the Shares will be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to shareholders of private corporations for profit organized under the general corporation law of the State of Delaware (except that we express no opinion as to such holders who are also Trustees of the Fund).
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of the Fund. Except as provided in this paragraph, the opinion set forth above is expressed solely for the benefit of the addressee hereof in connection with the matters contemplated hereby and may not be relied upon by, or filed with, any other person or entity or for any other purpose without our prior written consent.
We hereby consent to the use of our name and to the references to our firm under the caption “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm; Legal Counsel” in the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information included in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, however, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the 1933 Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| /s/ Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP | ||
| FAEGRE DRINKER BIDDLE & REATH LLP |
Page 2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the inclusion in this Registration Statement on Form N-2 of MVP Private Markets Fund, of our report dated November 8, 2021, related to the financial statements of MVP Private Markets Fund for the period ended October 28, 2021, and to the use of our report dated November 8, 2021, related to the financial statements of MVP Private Markets, L.P. (the Predecessor Fund) for the period ended September 30, 2021, and to the references to our firm under the headings “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm; Legal Counsel” in the Preliminary Prospectus and “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm; Legal Counsel” and “Financial Statements” in the Statement of Additional Information.
/s/ Cohen & Company, Ltd.
Cohen & Company, Ltd.
Chicago, Illinois
November 12, 2021
CODE OF ETHICS
OF
MVP Private Markets Fund
Dated as of: October 27, 2021
This Code of Ethics (the "Code") has been adopted by the MVP Private Markets Fund, a registered investment company for which Portfolio Advisors, LLC (the "Adviser") serves as investment adviser (the "Fund"), in compliance with Rule 17j-l (the "Rule") under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), to establish standards and procedures for the detection and prevention of activities by which persons having knowledge of recommended investments and investment intentions of the Fund, may abuse their fiduciary duties and otherwise to deal with the type of conflict of interest situations to which the Rule is addressed.
In general, the fiduciary principles that govern personal investment activities reflect, at a minimum, the following: (1) the duty at all times to place the interests of the Fund first; (2) the requirement that all personal securities transactions be conducted consistent with this Code and in such a manner as to avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest or any abuse of an individual's position of trust and responsibility; and (3) the fundamental standard that personnel providing services to the Fund should not take inappropriate advantage of their positions.
The provisions of the Code are applicable to the Fund and to persons who are "Covered Persons," as defined below. The scope of the Code and its operation reflect the fact that a separate code of ethics has been adopted by the Adviser (the "Adviser Code"). All personnel of the Adviser who are "access persons" of the Fund, as such term is defined by the Rule, are not Covered Persons hereunder and are subject to the provisions of the Adviser Code, which has been approved by the Board of Trustees of the Fund in accordance with the requirements of the Rule, and such persons shall not be subject to the terms of this Code. Any Fund access persons that are employees of the Fund’s Administrator are not Covered Persons hereunder and thus are not subject to this Code, but are subject to the Administrator’s Code. Any material violations by such access persons are reported to the Fund’s Board of Trustees by the Administrator. (The Administrator has represented that its Code of Ethics complies with all aspects of the Rule.)
| 1. | Important General Prohibitions |
The specific provisions and reporting requirements of this Code are concerned primarily with those investment activities of a Covered Person, as defined below, who may benefit from or interfere with the purchase or sale of portfolio securities of the Fund. However, both the Rule and this Code prohibit any officer or director of the fund, as well as any Affiliate, as defined below, from using information concerning the investment intentions of Advisory Clients, or their ability to influence such investment intentions, for personal gain or in a manner detrimental to the interests of the fund. Specifically, the Rule makes it unlawful for any such person, directly or indirectly in connection with the purchase or sale of a "security held or to be acquired" by the fund to:
| (i) | employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud the fund; |
| (ii) | make to the fund any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state to the Fund a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading; |
| (iii) | engage in any act, practice, or course of business which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon the fund; or |
| (iv) | engage in any manipulative practice with respect to the fund. |
| 2. | Definitions – As used herein: |
"Affiliate" includes but is not limited to "Covered Persons," other than Independent Trustees.
"Beneficial Interest" means any interest by which an Affiliate or Covered Person, or any member of his or her immediate family (relative by blood or marriage) living in the same household, can directly or indirectly derive a monetary benefit from the purchase, sale or ownership of a security except such interests as a majority of the Independent Trustees of the Fund shall determine to be too remote for the purpose of this Code.
"Covered Persons" means: (1) the trustees and the officers of the Fund; (2) any person who, in connection with his regular functions or duties, participates in the selection of, or regularly obtains information regarding, the Securities currently being purchased, sold or considered for purchase or sale by the Fund; and (3) any natural person in a control relationship to the Fund or its investment adviser who obtains information concerning recommendations made to the Fund with regard to the purchase or sale of Securities by the Fund; provided, however, the term "Covered Persons" does not include persons who are subject to the Adviser Code.
"Independent Trustee" means any trustee of the Fund who is not an "interested person," as defined by Section
2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder, of the Fund.
"Initial Public Offering" means an offering of securities registered under the Securities Act of 1933, the issuer of which immediately before the registration, was not subject to the reporting requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
"Investment Person" means: (1) a Portfolio Manager; (2) a securities analyst or trader who provides information and advice to Portfolio Managers or who helps execute a Portfolio Manager's decisions; (3) any other person who, in connection with his or her duties, makes or participates in making recommendations regarding the Fund's purchase or sale of securities; and (4) any natural person in a control relationship to the Fund or its investment adviser who obtains information concerning recommendations made to the Fund with regard to the purchase or sale of Securities by the Fund; provided however, the term "Investment Person" does not include persons who are subject to the Adviser Code.
"Portfolio Manager" means an individual entrusted with the direct responsibility and authority to make investment decisions affecting the Fund.
"Security" includes any stock, note, bond, debenture, or any other instrument constituting a security as defined by Section 2(a)(36) of the 1940 Act, including any warrant or option to acquire or sell a security and financial futures contracts, and limited partnership interests, but excludes securities issued by the U.S. government or its agencies, bankers' acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper, high quality short-term debt instruments including repurchase agreements and shares of open-end investment companies (other than exchange traded funds) unaffiliated with the Adviser or any affiliate of the Adviser. "High quality short-term debt instrument" shall mean an instrument that has a maturity at issuance of less than 366 days and that is rated in one of the two highest rating categories by a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (NRSRO).
References to a "Security" in this Code shall include any warrant for, option in, or security or other instrument immediately convertible into or whose value is derived from that "Security" and any instrument or right which is equivalent to that "Security."
"Security Held or to be Acquired" by the Fund means any Security which, within the most recent 15 days (1) is or has been held by the Fund or (2) is being considered by the Fund or its investment adviser, for purchase by the Fund.
A security is "being considered for purchase or sale" from the time a decision to purchase or sell a Security is made by a Portfolio Manager or by one or more Investment Persons having authority to make such a decision on behalf of the Fund until all orders to purchase or sell that Security for the Fund are completed or withdrawn.
| 3. | Prohibited Transactions |
| (a) | No Affiliate or Independent Trustee may purchase or sell any Security in which he or she has or thereby acquires a Beneficial Interest with actual knowledge that a decision to place an order for the purchase or sale of the same Security by the Fund had been made or proposed. |
| (b) | No Covered Person may purchase or sell any Security in which he or she has or thereby acquires a Beneficial Interest with actual knowledge that, at the same time, such Security is "being considered for purchase or sale" by the Fund or that such Security is the subject of an outstanding purchase or sale order by the Fund. |
| (c) | No Investment Person may purchase any Security in an Initial Public Offering without the express written approval of the Administrator of this Code. |
| (d) | No Investment Person may, without the express prior written approval of the Administrator (defined below) of this Code which shall set forth the rationale supporting such pre-approval, acquire any Security in a Private Placement, and if a Private Placement security is acquired, such Investment Person must disclose that investment when he or she plays a part in the Fund's subsequent consideration of any investment in that issuer, and in such circumstances, an independent review shall be conducted by Investment Persons who do not have an interest in the issuer and by the Administrator. |
| (e) | No Covered Person may purchase or sell any Security in which he or she has or thereby acquires a Beneficial Interest with actual knowledge that, within the most recent 15 days, the Security has been purchased or sold or is being considered for purchase or sale by the Fund or the Adviser (a “Prohibited Matching Portfolio Transaction”). |
| (f) | An Investment Person may not accept any gifts or anything else of more than a de-minimis value from any person or entity that does business with or on behalf of the Fund or the Adviser. |
| (g) | No Investment Person may serve on the board of directors or trustees of a publicly-traded corporation or other business entity without the prior written approval of the Administrator. |
| 4. | Exempt Transactions |
Neither the prohibitions nor the reporting requirements of this Code apply to:
| (a) | purchases or sales of Securities for an account over which a Covered Person has no direct control and does not exercise indirect control; |
| (b) | involuntary purchases or sales made by the Covered Person or any Fund; |
| (c) | purchases which are part of an automatic dividend reinvestment plan; |
| (d) | purchases resulting from the exercise of rights acquired from an issuer as part of a pro rata distribution to all holders of a class of securities of such issuer and the sale of such rights; or |
| (e) | purchases or sales which receive the express written approval and pre-clearance of the Administrator of this Code because the purchase or sale will not occasion the improper use of the Fund's proprietary information or an abuse of the individual's position of trust and responsibility to the Fund and because: |
| (i) | their potential harm to an Advisory Client is remote; |
| (ii) | they would be unlikely to affect a highly institutional market; or |
| (iii) | they are clearly not related economically to securities being considered for purchase or sale by the Fund. |
| 5. | Reporting Requirements |
| (a) | Within thirty (30) days after the end of each calendar quarter, all Covered Persons (subject to the limitation for Independent Trustees in sub-paragraph (b) below) shall make a written report to the Administrator of this Code. This quarterly report shall set forth specified information regarding all non-exempt securities transactions occurring in the quarter by which they acquired or disposed of a Beneficial Interest in any Security and if no non-exempt transaction in a Security occurred during the quarter, the written report shall so state. |
A Covered Person is not required to include in a quarterly report information regarding one or more non-exempt transactions if all information required by the report with respect to such transactions is contained in trade confirmations and account statements previously provided to the Administrator of this Code for the time period covered by that quarterly report. Each quarterly report shall include a certification by the Covered Person that such person has not acquired or disposed of a Beneficial Interest in any Security in a Prohibited Matching Portfolio Transaction.
| (b) | An Independent Trustee need only report non-exempt transactions (in which he or she has had a Beneficial Interest) in a Security (excluding, for purposes of this subparagraph (b), open-end investment companies affiliated with the Adviser or any affiliate of the Adviser) which, at the time, such trustee knew, or in the ordinary course of fulfilling his or her duties, should have known was purchased or sold or was being or had been considered for purchase or sale by the Fund during the fifteen (15) day period immediately preceding or after the date of the Independent Trustee's transaction and if no non-exempt transaction in a security occurred during the quarter, the written report, if any, shall so state. |
| (c) | Transactions in an account identified to the Administrator of this Code need not be otherwise reported if the Covered Person shall have authorized disclosure of all securities transactions in the account to the Administrator and furnished the Administrator copies of all confirmations and monthly statements pertaining to such account. |
| (d) | The quarterly report must contain the following information with respect to each reportable transaction: |
| (i) | name(s) in which the account is registered and the date the account was established; | |
| (ii) | date and nature of the transaction (purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition); | |
| (iii) | title, number of shares, principal amount, interest rate and maturity (as applicable) of each security and the price at which the transaction was effected; |
| (iv) | name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through whom the transaction was effected; and |
| (v) | the date the report is submitted. |
| (e) | Any such report may contain a statement that it is not to be construed as an admission that the person making it has or had any direct or indirect Beneficial Interest in any security to which the report relates. |
| (f) | All Covered Persons other than Independent Trustees shall arrange for copies of confirmations of all personal securities transactions and periodic statements of securities accounts to be sent directly to the Administrator. |
| (g) | All Covered Persons other than Independent Trustees shall initially, within ten (10) days of becoming a Covered Person, and at least annually thereafter make a written holdings report to the Administrator of the Code of Ethics with the following information (such information, as to the initial report, must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date that the person becomes a Covered Person, and as to the annual report, must be current as of a date no more than 45 days before the report is submitted): |
| (i) | name(s) in which the account is registered and the date the account was established; |
| (ii) | title, number of shares, principal amount, interest rate and maturity (as applicable) of each | |
| (iii) | Security; |
| (iv) | name of the broker, dealer or bank with whom the account is maintained; and |
| (v) | the date the report is submitted. |
| (h) | All Covered Persons shall certify that they have read and understand this Code and recognize that they are subject thereto. |
| (i) | All Covered Persons other than Independent Trustees shall certify annually, that they have complied with the requirements of this Code and that they have disclosed or reported all personal securities transactions and holdings required to be disclosed or reported pursuant thereto. |
| 6. | Confidentiality of Fund Transactions |
Until disclosed in a public report to shareholders or to the SEC in the normal course, all information concerning the securities "being considered for purchase or sale" by the Fund shall be kept confidential by all Covered Persons and disclosed by them only on a need to know basis in accordance with practices and policies developed and periodically reviewed for their continuing appropriateness by the Chief Compliance Officer. Any questions regarding confidentiality are to be directed to the Chief Compliance Officer. It shall be the responsibility of the Chief Compliance Officer to be familiar with such practices and policies and to report any inadequacy found by him to the trustees of the Fund or any committee appointed by them to deal with such information.
| 7. | Sanctions |
Any violation of this Code of Ethics shall be subject to the imposition of such sanctions by the Fund as may be deemed appropriate under the circumstances to achieve the purposes of the Rule and this Code and may include suspension or termination of employment, a letter of censure and/or restitution of an amount equal to the difference between the price paid or received by the affected Fund(s) and the more advantageous price paid or received by the offending person except that sanctions for violation of this Code by an Independent Trustee of the Fund will be determined by a majority vote of its other Independent Trustees.
| 8. | Administration and Construction |
| (a) | The administration of this Code of Ethics shall be the responsibility of the Chief Compliance Officer of the Fund, as the Administrator of the Code. |
| (b) | The duties of the Chief Compliance Officer include: |
| (i) | continuous maintenance of a current list of the names of all Covered Persons with an appropriate description of their title or employment; |
| (ii) | furnishing all Covered Persons a copy of this Code and initially and periodically informing them of their duties and obligations thereunder; |
| (iii) | designating, as desired, appropriate personnel to review transaction and holdings reports submitted by Covered Persons; |
| (iv) | maintaining or supervising the maintenance of all records required by the Code; |
| (v) | preparing listings of all transactions effected by any Covered Person within fifteen (15) days of the date on which the same security was held, purchased or sold by the Fund; |
| (vi) | determining whether any particular securities transaction should be exempted pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph 4(e) of this Code; |
| (vii) | issuing either personally or with the assistance of counsel as may be appropriate, any interpretation of this Code which may appear consistent with the objectives of the Rule and this Code; |
| (viii) | conducting such inspections or investigations, including scrutiny of the listings referred to in subparagraph (v) above, as shall reasonably be required to detect and report, with his or her recommendations, any apparent violations of this Code to the trustees of the affected Funds or any committee appointed by them to deal with such information; |
| (ix) | submitting a quarterly report to the Board of Trustees of the Fund potentially affected, containing a description of any violation and the sanction imposed; transactions which suggest the possibility of a violation; interpretations issued by and any exemptions or waivers found appropriate by the Chief Compliance Officer; and any other significant information concerning the appropriateness of this Code; |
| (x) | submitting a written report at least annually to the Board of Trustees of the Fund which: |
| (a) | summarizes existing procedures concerning personal investing and any changes in the procedures made during the past year; |
| (b) | identifies any violations requiring significant remedial action during the past year and describes the remedial action taken; |
| (c) | identifies any recommended changes in existing restrictions or procedures based upon experience under the Code, evolving industry practices or developments in applicable laws or regulations; |
| (d) | reports with respect to the implementation of this Code through orientation and training programs and on-going reminders; |
| (e) | certifies that the procedures set forth in this Code are reasonably necessary to prevent Covered Persons from violating the Code; and |
| (xi) | maintaining periodic educational conferences to explain and reinforce the terms of this Code. |
| 9. | Required Records |
The Chief Compliance Officer shall maintain and cause to be maintained in an easily accessible place, the following records:
| (a) | a copy of any code of ethics adopted pursuant to the Rule which has been in effect during the most recent five (5) year period; |
| (b) | a record of any violation of any such code of ethics, and of any action taken as a result of such violation, within five (5) years from the end of the fiscal year of the Fund in which such violation occurred; |
| (c) | a copy of each report made by a Covered Person, as well as trade confirmations and account statements that contain information not duplicated in such reports, within five (5) years from the end of the fiscal year of the Fund in which such report is made or information is provided, the first two (2) years in an easily accessible place; |
| (d) | a copy of each report made by the Chief Compliance Officer within five (5) years from the end of the fiscal year of the Fund in which such report is made or issued, the first two (2) years in an easily accessible place; |
| (e) | a list, in an easily accessible place, of all persons who are, or within the most recent five (5) year period have been, required to make reports pursuant to the Rule and this Code or who are or were responsible for reviewing these reports; and |
| (f) | a record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the decision, to permit an Investment Person to acquire a Private Placement security, for at least five (5) years after the end of the fiscal year in which permission was granted. |
| 10. | Amendments and Modifications |
This Code of Ethics may not be amended or modified except in a written form which is specifically approved by majority vote of the Independent Trustees of the Fund.
Dated as of December 14, 2018
Adopted by the Boards of Trustees of the MVP Private Markets Fund
APPENDICES - FORMS
The following forms are to be used for reporting purposes under this Code of Ethics. They are subject to change from time to time by the Administrator of this Code of Ethics or his or her designee, and are neither incorporated into nor are part of the Code of Ethics.
| I. | Acknowledgement of Receipt of Code of Ethics |
| II. | Initial Report and Annual Report of Personal Securities Holdings |
| III. | Pre-Clearance of Personal Securities Trades |
| IV. | Initial Public Offering Approval Request Form |
| V. | Private Placement Approval Request Form |
| VI. | Quarterly Report under the Code of Ethics |
| VII. | Annual Certification of Compliance with Code of Ethics |
| VIII. | List of Covered Persons |
CODE OF ETHICS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
To: Chief Compliance Officer of the MVP Private Markets Fund (the "Fund")
I hereby certify to the Fund that I have read and understand the Code of Ethics of the Fund, I recognize that I am subject to the Code of Ethics, and I will act in accordance with the policies and procedures expressed in the Code of Ethics.
| Date: | ||||
| Signature | ||||
| Print Name |
INITIAL PERSONAL SECURITIES ACCOUNT AND HOLDINGS NOTIFICATION FORM
(ATTACH COPIES OF STATEMENTS FOR ACCOUNTS LISTED BELOW)
| EMPLOYEE NAME/EXT. | DEPARTMENT/TITLE | DIRECT SUPERVISOR | ||
| NAME IN WHICH PERSONAL SECURITIES ACCOUNT IS HELD (1) | BROKER/INSTITUTION'S NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS | ACCOUNT NUMBER | ||
OTHER PERSONAL HOLDINGS (2) (NOT INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FOR ACCOUNTS LISTED ABOVE)
| TRADE DATE | DESCRIPTION OF SECURITY | TYPE OF TRANSACTION | NUMBER OF SHARES, OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT, INTEREST RATE & MATURITY | UNIT PRICE | TOTAL COST OR PROCEEDS | NAME OF BROKER, DEALER OR BANK | ||||||
I CERTIFY THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS STATEMENT IS ACCURATE AND THAT LISTED ABOVE ARE ALL PERSONAL SECURITIES ACCOUNTS AND PERSONAL HOLDINGS IN WHICH I HAVE BENEFICIAL INTEREST OR OVER WHICH I EXERCISE INVESTMENT CONTROL.
| EMPLOYEE SIGNATURE | DATE OF HIRE |
(l) List your own securities account as well as those accounts in which you have a financial interest or over which you exercise investment control.
(2) List your personal holdings not reflected in the attached account statements.
PERSONAL SECURITIES TRADING AUTHORIZATION
PRE-CLEARANCE FORM
| Name of Security | Security Identifier (CUSIP or ticker symbol) | Buy Or Sell | Name of Broker | Brokerage Account # | Estimated Date/Time Of Trade* | |||||
| * | Pre-clearance is effective for current business day and next business day only. |
| Pre-clearance: | Granted | Denied |
Existing Trade on the trading desk? Yes No
If pre-clearance is requested by a Portfolio Manager:
If pre-clearance is requested by a Portfolio Manager and is granted, such manager hereby acknowledges, by his or her signature below, that neither he or she nor any co-portfolio manager will, within the next seven days, trade this security in any fund or other advised account which he/she/they manage(s).
If pre-clearance, was this security traded by the fund or other advised account managed by this Portfolio Manager within the prior seven days? Yes No
If the answer to either is yes, pre-clearance is denied.
| Requested by: | ||||
| (Signature) | (Date) | |||
| (Print Name) |
INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING APPROVAL REQUEST
| Name (Please Print) | Department |
| 1. | Name of issuer: |
| 2. | Type of security: | Equity | Fixed Income |
| 3. | Planned date of transaction: |
| 4. | Size of offering: |
| 5. | Number of shares to be purchased: |
| 6. | What firm is making this IPO available to you? |
| 7. | Do you do business with this firm in connection with your job duties? |
| 8. | Do you believe this IPO is being made available to you in order to influence an investment decision or brokerage order flow for fund or client accounts? |
| 9. | Have you in the past received IPO allocations from this firm? Yes No |
If "yes", please provide a list of all previously purchased IPOs
| 10. | To your knowledge, are other Adviser personnel or clients involved? |
| Yes No |
If "yes", please describe
| 11. | Describe how you became aware of this investment opportunity: |
I understand that approval, if granted, is based upon the information provided herein and I agree to observe any conditions imposed upon such approval.
I represent (i) that I have read and understand the Code of Ethics of MVP Private Markets Fund with respect to personal trading and recognize that I am subject thereto; (ii) that the above trade is in compliance with the Code of Ethics; (iii) that to the best of my knowledge the above trade does not represent a conflict of interest, or an appearance of a conflict of interest, with any client or fund; and (iv) that I have no knowledge of any pending client orders in this security. Furthermore, I acknowledge that no action should be taken by me to effect the trade(s) listed above until I have received formal approval.
| Signature | |
| Date |
| Date Received by Legal | |
| Department: |
| Approved: | Disapproved: | ||||
| Date: | |||||
| Name: | Name: | ||||
| Title: | Title: |
PRIVATE PLACEMENT APPROVAL REQUEST
(Attach a copy of the Private Placement Memorandum, Offering Memorandum or any other relevant documents)
| Name and Title (Please Print) | Department |
| 1. | Name of corporation, partnership or other entity (the "Organization") | |
| 2. | Is the Organization: Public Private |
| 3. | Type of security or fund: |
| 4. | Nature of participation (e.g., Stockholder, General Partner, Limited Partner). | |
| Indicate all applicable: | ||
| 5. | Planned date of transaction: |
| 6. | Size of offering (if a fund, size of fund) |
| 7. | Size of your participation: |
| Would the investment carry unlimited |
| 8 | liability? Yes No |
| 9. | To your knowledge, are other Adviser personnel or clients involved? |
Yes No
If "yes", please describe
| 10. | Describe the business to be conducted by the Organization: |
I understand that approval, if granted, is based upon the information provided herein and I agree to observe any conditions imposed upon such approval. I will notify the Legal Department in writing if any aspect of the investment is proposed to be changed (e.g.,
| 11. | If Organization is a fund: |
Describe investment objectives of the fund (e.g., value, growth, core or specialty)
| 12. | For Portfolio Managers: |
Does a fund that you manage have an investment objective that would make this Private Placement an opportunity that should first be made available to a fund or client you manage money for?
Yes No
If "yes", please describe which client or fund:
| 13. | Will you participate in any investment decisions? Yes No |
If "yes", please describe:
| 14 | Describe how you become aware of this investment opportunity: |
investment focus, compensation, involvement in organization's management) and I hereby acknowledge that such changes may require further approvals, or divestiture of the investment by me.
I represent (i) that I have read and understand the Code of Ethics of MVP Private Markets Fund with respect to personal trading and recognize that I am subject thereto; (ii) that the above trade is in compliance with the Code of Ethics; (iii) that to the best of my knowledge the above trade does not represent a conflict of interest, or an appearance of a conflict of interest, with any client or fund; and (iv) that I have no knowledge of any pending client orders in this security. Furthermore, I acknowledge that no action should be taken by me to effect the trade(s) listed above until I have received formal approval.
| Signature | ||||
| Date |
| Date Received by Legal Department: | |||||
| Approved: | Disapproved: | ||||
| Date: | |||||
| Name: | Name: | ||||
| Title: | Title: | ||||
I understand that approval, if granted, is based upon the information provided herein and I agree to observe any conditions imposed upon such approval. I will notify the Legal Department in writing if any aspect of the investment is proposed to be changed (e.g.,
QUARTERLY REPORT
TO: Administrator of the Code of Ethics DATE: _____________
| FROM: | (Print Name) |
RE: Quarterly Report
As a Covered Person under the Code of Ethics of MVP Private Markets Fund , I hereby confirm that, other than accounts and the transactions listed below, I have no other securities accounts and have not made any purchases or sales of securities covered by the Code of Ethics during the quarter ended except (i) transactions through a brokerage account listed below for which copies of all confirmations and statements have been furnished to you, or (ii) transactions in shares of MVP Private Markets Fund in an account identified as an Adviser Employees Account in the Dealer section of the Account Statement.
I also certify that I have not acquired or disposed of a Beneficial Interest in any Security in a Prohibited Matching Portfolio Transaction during the quarter for which this report is being submitted. I understand that the Code of Ethics covers all securities transactions for (i) my personal account; (ii) any account in which I have a beneficial interest; (iii) any account maintained by a relative residing with me; and (iv) any account over which I have any discretionary powers of investment. All securities are covered except U.S. Treasury securities, money market instruments and open-end investment companies. All open-end investment companies traded on an exchange are covered securities. I also understand inaccurate completion of this form may result in disciplinary sanctions. All brokerage accounts subject to the Code of Ethics are described below. If there are no brokerage accounts subject to the Code of Ethics, write "none" below.
NOTE: YOU MUST COMPLETE ALL BROKERAGE ACCOUNT INFORMATION EVEN IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED THIS INFORMATION. AN INCOMPLETE REPORT WILL BE RETURNED TO YOU FOR PROPER COMPLETION.
| Firm Name / Address | Account Number | Name(s) In Which Account Is Registered | ||
Transactions: List only if done through a broker who has NOT forwarded copies of your account statements to the Code Administrator. If there are no transactions to report, write "none" below.
| TRADE DATE | DESCRIPTION OF SECURITY | TYPE OF TRANSACTION | NUMBER OF SHARES, OR PRINCIPAL AMOUNT, INTEREST RATE & MATURITY | UNIT PRICE | TOTAL COST OR PROCEEDS | NAME OF BROKER, DEALER OR BANK | ||||||
THIS REPORT IS TO BE COMPLETED, DATED, SIGNED AND RETURNED TO THE ADMINISTRATOR OR THE ADMINISTRATOR'S DESIGNEE ON OR BEFORE THE 10TH CALENDAR DAY AFTER QUARTER-END.
| Signature |
ANNUAL CERTIFICATION
TO: Administrator of the Code of Ethics
RE: Annual Certification of Compliance - Sections 5(h) and 5(i):
In accordance with the requirements of Sections 5(h) and 5(i) of the MVP Private Markets Fund Code of Ethics, I hereby certify that:
| (1) | I have read and understand the Code of Ethics and I recognize that I am subject to it; |
| (2) | I have complied with the requirements of the Code of Ethics; and |
| (3) | I have disclosed or reported all personal securities transactions and holdings as required under the Code of Ethics. |
| By: | ||
| Signature |
| Print Name: | ||
| Date: |
LIST OF COVERED PERSONS
| TBD |
| TBD |
| TBD |
2021 Code of Ethics
Portfolio Advisors, LLC
Code of Ethics
Portfolio Advisors, LLC and its affiliates, whether or not under common control (collectively, (“PA” or “Portfolio Advisors” or the “Firm”) has adopted this Code of Ethics (the “Code”) which shall be distributed to each PA employee upon commencement of employment and to any Access Person. Pursuant to this Code, each employee, Access Person and member (collectively, “PA professionals”) shall:
| w | Act with integrity, competence, dignity, and in an ethical manner when dealing with the public, clients, prospects, fellow employees, and fellow members. |
| w | Practice and encourage others to practice in a professional and ethical manner that will reflect credit on Portfolio Advisors. |
| w | Strive to maintain and improve their competence and the competence of others. |
| w | Use reasonable care and exercise independent professional judgment. |
| A. | Persons and Accounts Covered by the Code |
Employees: The Code applies to all of the Firm's Employees, which for purposes of the Code include all of the Firm's supervised persons. The Firm's supervised persons consist of our directors, officers and partners (or other persons occupying a similar status or performing similar functions); our employees; and any other person who provides advice on behalf of the Firm and is subject to the Firm's supervision and control.
| a. | Access Persons |
Certain provisions of the Code apply only to the Firm's "access persons" Access Persons include all Employees.
| b. | Accounts and Covered Securities |
As defined below in the Definition Section of this Code of Ethics.
STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
STANDARD I: FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES
PA professionals operate under the regulatory jurisdiction of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which subjects Portfolio Advisors and PA professionals to a variety of industry rules and regulations. All PA professionals recognize that these laws, rules and regulations exist to protect the interests of the investing public and therefore shall maintain strict compliance thereto.
Therefore, PA professionals shall:
| A. | Maintain knowledge of and comply with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations of any government, governmental agency, regulatory organization, licensing agency, or professional association governing the PA professionals’ professional activities. |
| B. | Compliance with Applicable Federal Securities Laws In addition to the general principles of conduct stated in the Code and the specific trading restrictions and reporting requirements described below, the Code requires all Employees to comply with applicable Federal Securities Laws. |
| C. | Not knowingly participate or assist in any violation of such laws, rules, or regulations. |
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STANDARD II: RELATIONSHIPS WITH AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE PROFESSION
| A. | Professional Misconduct |
1. PA professionals shall not engage in any professional conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, manipulation or misrepresentation or commit any act that reflects adversely on their honesty, trustworthiness, or professional competence.
2. PA professionals shall not engage in any conduct or commit any act that compromises the integrity of Portfolio Advisors.
STANDARD III: RELATIONSHIPS WITH AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO PORTFOLIO ADVISORS
| A. | Duty to Portfolio Advisors |
PA professionals shall not undertake any independent practice that could result in compensation or other benefit in competition with Portfolio Advisors unless they obtain written consent from both Portfolio Advisors and the persons or entities for whom they undertake independent practice.
| B. | Disclosure of Conflicts to Portfolio Advisors. PA professionals shall: |
| 1. | Disclose to Portfolio Advisors all matters, including beneficial ownership of securities or other investments that reasonably could be expected to interfere with their duty to Portfolio Advisors or their ability to make unbiased and objective recommendations. |
| 2. | Comply with any prohibitions on activities imposed by Portfolio Advisors if a conflict of interest exists. |
| C. | Disclosure of Additional Compensation Arrangements. PA professionals shall disclose to Portfolio Advisors in writing all monetary compensation or other benefits that they receive for their services that are in addition to compensation or benefits conferred by Portfolio Advisors. |
| D. | Responsibilities of Supervisors. PA professionals with supervisory responsibility, authority, or the ability to influence the conduct of others shall exercise reasonable supervision over those subject to their supervision or authority to prevent any violation of applicable statutes, regulations, or laws. In so doing, PA professionals are entitled to rely on reasonable procedures designed to detect and prevent such violations. |
STANDARD IV: RELATIONSHIPS WITH AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO CLIENTS AND PROSPECTS
| A. | Investment Process. |
| A-1. | Reasonable Basis and Representations. PA professionals shall: |
| a. | Exercise diligence and thoroughness in making investment recommendations or in taking investment actions. |
| b. | Have a reasonable and adequate basis, supported by appropriate research and investigation, for such recommendations or actions. |
| c. | Make reasonable and diligent efforts to avoid any material misrepresentation or material omission in any research report or investment recommendation or otherwise in connection with the purchase or sale of a security held or to be acquired by a client. |
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| d. | Maintain appropriate records to support the reasonableness of such recommendations or actions. |
| A-2. | Research Reports. PA professionals shall: |
| a. | Use reasonable judgment regarding the inclusion or exclusion of relevant factors in research reports. |
| b. | Distinguish between facts and opinions in research reports. |
| c. | Indicate the basic characteristics of the investment involved when preparing for public distribution a research report or recommendation that is not directly related to a specific client. |
| A-3. | Independence and Objectivity. PA professionals shall use reasonable care and judgment to achieve and maintain independence and objectivity in making investment recommendations or taking investment action. |
| B. | Interactions with Clients and Prospects. |
| B-1. | Fiduciary Duties. In relationships with clients, PA professionals shall use particular care in determining applicable fiduciary duty and shall comply with such duty as to those persons and interests to whom the duty is owed. PA professionals must act for the benefit of their clients and place their clients’ interests before their own. |
| B-2. | Portfolio Investment Recommendations and Actions. |
PA professionals shall:
| a. | Make a reasonable inquiry into a client’s investment experience and investment objectives prior to making any investment recommendations, and shall update this information as necessary. |
| b. | Consider the appropriateness and suitability of investment recommendations or actions for each client. In determining appropriateness and suitability, PA professionals shall consider applicable relevant factors, including the needs and circumstances of the client, the basic characteristics of the investment involved, and the basic characteristics of the total portfolio. PA professionals shall not make a recommendation unless they reasonably determine that the recommendation is suitable to the client’s investment experience and investment objectives. |
| c. | Distinguish between facts and opinions in the presentation of investment recommendations. |
| d. | Disclose to clients and prospects the basic format and general principles of the investment processes by which investments are selected and portfolios are constructed, and promptly disclose to clients and prospects any changes that might significantly affect those processes. |
| B-3. | Fair Dealing. PA professionals shall deal fairly and objectively with all clients and prospects when disseminating investment recommendations and taking investment action. |
| B-4. | Priority of Transactions. Transactions for clients shall have priority over transactions in investments of which a PA professional is the beneficial owner so that such personal transactions do not operate adversely to their clients’ interests. If PA professionals make a recommendation regarding the purchase or sale of an investment, they shall not be permitted to act on their own behalf with respect to the investment without the prior approval of senior management of Portfolio Advisors. Senior management shall make a determination as to if and when it is appropriate for the PA professional to act on the investment, first giving clients adequate opportunity to act on the recommendation. For purposes of this Code, a PA professional is a “beneficial owner” if the PA professional has |
| a. | a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in the investment; |
| b. | the power to vote or direct the voting of the shares of the investments; or |
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| c. | the power to dispose or direct the disposition of the investment. |
| B-5. | Preservation of Confidentiality. PA professionals shall preserve the confidentiality of information communicated by clients, prospects, or Portfolio Advisors concerning matters within the scope of the client/PA professional, prospect/PA professional, or Portfolio Advisors/PA professional relationship unless the PA professional receives information concerning illegal activities on the part of the client, the prospect, or Portfolio Advisors. |
| B-6. | Prohibition Against Misrepresentation. PA professionals shall not make any statements, orally or in writing, that misrepresent |
| a. | the services that they or Portfolio Advisors are capable of performing; |
| b. | their qualifications or the qualifications of Portfolio Advisors; or |
| c. | the PA professional’s academic or professional credentials. |
PA professionals shall not make or imply, orally or in writing, any assurances or guarantees regarding any investment except to communicate accurate information regarding the terms of the investment instrument and the issuer’s obligations under the instrument.
| B-7. | Disclosure of Conflicts to Clients and Prospects. PA professionals shall disclose to their clients and prospects all matters, including beneficial ownership of securities or other investments, that reasonably could be expected to impair the PA professional’s ability to make unbiased and objective recommendations. |
| B-8. | Disclosure of Referral Fees. PA professionals shall disclose to clients and prospects any consideration or benefit received by the PA professional or Portfolio Advisors or delivered to others for the recommendation of any services to the client or prospect. |
STANDARD V: RELATIONSHIPS WITH AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE INVESTING PUBLIC
Prohibition Against Use of Material Nonpublic Information. PA professionals who possess material nonpublic information related to the value of a security shall not trade or cause others to trade in that security if such trading would breach a duty or if the information was misappropriated or relates to a tender offer. If PA professionals receive material nonpublic information in confidence, they shall not breach that confidence by trading or causing others to trade in securities to which such information relates.
| A. | Performance Presentation |
| 1. | PA professionals shall not make any statements, orally or in writing, that misrepresent the investment performance that they or their firms have accomplished or can reasonably be expected to achieve. |
| 2. | If PA professionals communicate firm performance information directly or indirectly to clients or prospective clients, or in a manner intended to be received by clients or prospective clients, PA professionals shall make every reasonable effort to assure that such performance information is a fair, accurate, and complete presentation of such performance. |
STANDARD VI: PERSONAL SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS
All Access Persons are required to report, and the Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) or his designee will review, Access Persons personal securities transactions and holdings periodically as provided below. The CCO will identify all Access Persons who are required to make these reports and inform those Access Persons of their reporting obligations. The CCO’s reports will be reviewed by a Member of the Management Committee or their designee.
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| A. | REPORTING REQUIREMENTS |
| (1) | Holdings reports. Each Access Person shall submit to the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee a report of the Access Person's current securities holdings that meet the following requirements: |
| (i) | Content of holdings reports. Each holdings report must contain, at a minimum: |
| (A) | The title and type of security, and as applicable the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, number of shares, and principal amount of each Reportable Security in which the Access Person has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership; |
| (B) | The name of any broker, dealer or bank with which the Access Person maintains an account in which any securities are held for the Access Person's direct or indirect benefit; and |
| (C) | The date the Access Person submits the report. |
| (ii) | Timing of holdings reports. Each Access Persons must each submit a holdings report: |
| (A) | No later than 10 days after the person becomes an Access Person, and the information must be current as of the date the person becomes an Access Person or a date no more than 45 days prior to the date the person becomes an Access Person. |
| (B) | At least once each 12-month period thereafter on a date selected by PA, and the information must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date the report was submitted. |
| (2) | Transaction reports. The Code of Ethics require each Access Person to submit to the Chief Compliance Officer or his designee quarterly securities transactions reports that meet the following requirements: |
| (i) | Content of transaction reports. Each transaction report must contain, at a minimum, the following information about each transaction involving a Reportable Security in which the Access Person had, or as a result of the transaction acquired, any direct or indirect beneficial ownership: |
| (A) | The date of the transaction, the title, and as applicable the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, interest rate and maturity date, number of shares, and principal amount of each Reportable Security involved; |
| (B) | The nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition); |
| (C) | The price of the security at which the transaction was effected; |
| (D) | The name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through which the transaction was effected; and |
| (E) | The date the Access Person submits the report. |
With respect to any account established by an Access Person in which any securities were held during the quarter for the direct or indirect benefit of the Access Person, each transaction report must contain, at a minimum, the following information:
| (A) | The name of the broker, dealer or bank with whom the Access Person established the account; |
| (B) | The date the account was established; and |
| (C) | The date the Access Person submits the report. |
| (ii) | Timing of transaction reports. Each Access Person must submit a transaction report no later than 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter, which report must cover, at a minimum, all transactions during the quarter. |
| (iii) | Duplicate Statements. All Access Persons are required to provide the Chief Compliance Officer with duplicate trade confirmations and account statements. |
| (3) | Exceptions from reporting requirements. The Code of Ethics does not require an Access Person to submit: |
| (i) | Any report with respect to securities held in accounts over which the Access Person had no direct or indirect influence or control; |
| (ii) | A transaction report with respect to transactions effected pursuant to an automatic investment plan; |
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| (iii) | A transaction report if the report would duplicate information contained in broker trade confirmations or account statements that Portfolio Advisors holds in its records so long as Portfolio Advisors receive the confirmations or statements no later than 30 days after the end of the applicable calendar quarter. |
| B. | TRADING RESTRICTIONS |
Pre-approval of certain investments. All Access Persons must obtain pre-approval from the CCO, in writing (email and/or approval in the PTCC system will be sufficient methods of approval), before transacting in or gaining direct or indirect beneficial ownership of a Reportable Security, including initial public offerings and limited offerings, for a personal account. The CCO and any member of the Management Committee seeking to trade in a reportable security needs to obtain written pre-approval from two other members of the Management Committee before transacting in or gaining direct or indirect beneficial ownership of a Reportable Security(as defined below), including initial public offerings and limited offerings, for a personal account.
There is no guarantee that any Pre-Approval will be granted – even if the employee asserts that he or she is not in possession of material non-public information about the security (or the market for the company’s securities). Requests will be considered on a case by case basis. If the requested trade is permissible, Pre-Approvals are valid for the requested period of time, provided, however, that regardless of a valid Pre-Approval, an access person may not trade in such covered security if he or she gains any non-public information about the security during such period.
Restrictions on Certain investments. Access Persons will not be allowed to directly or indirectly acquire a beneficial ownership in any security of any company which is on the Portfolio Advisors Restricted List.
| C. | INSIDER TRADING AND MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION |
Introduction Federal securities laws prohibit the purchase or sale of securities by persons who are aware of material nonpublic information about a company, as well as the disclosure of material nonpublic information about a company to others who then trade in the company's securities. These transactions are commonly known as "insider trading." As the Firm is an investment advisor registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Firm is required to take certain actions to ensure its employees comply with such laws. Insider trading violations are pursued vigorously by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Firm’s Compliance Committee adopted this Insider Trading Policy, both to satisfy the Firm's obligation to prevent insider trading and to help employees avoid the severe consequences associated with violations of the insider trading laws. This Insider Trading Policy is also intended to prevent even the appearance of improper conduct on the part of anyone employed by the Firm. The Firm has worked hard over the years to establish a reputation for integrity and ethical conduct, and the Firm cannot afford to have that reputation damaged.
Specific Restrictions Firm policy prohibits employees and associated persons from effecting securities transactions while in the possession of material, non-public information.1 Employees are also prohibited from disclosing such information to others. This prohibition against insider trading applies not only to the security to which the inside information directly relates, but also to related products such as options or convertible securities. If employees receive inside information, they are prohibited from trading on that information, whether for the account of the Firm or any client, or their own account, any accounts in which they have a direct or indirect beneficial interest (including accounts for family members) or any other account over which they have control, discretionary authority or power of attorney.
| 1 | Information is generally considered material if there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor would consider it important in deciding to buy or sell a security. In addition, information that, when disclosed, is likely to have a direct effect on a security’s price should be treated as material. Examples include but are not limited to information concerning: impending tender offers; leveraged buy-outs; mergers; sales of subsidiaries; a change in dividend policy; the declaration of a stock split; an offering of additional securities; significant earnings changes; impending bankruptcy; the existence of liquidity problems; changes in management; the gain or loss of a significant customer or supplier; and other major corporate events. |
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The legal prohibition against insider trading includes the following- “If you are in possession of material non-public information about a company or the market for a company’s securities, you must either publicly disclose the information to the marketplace or refrain from trading.” It is not illegal to learn inside information. It is, however, illegal to trade on such information or to pass it on to others who have no legitimate business reason for receiving such information. Generally, public disclosure is not an option, and the effect is to require an individual to refrain from trading.
Generally, a person violates the insider trading prohibition when that person violates a duty owed either to the person on the other side of the transaction, or to a third party (such as a client or employer) by trading on or disclosing the information. The insider trading prohibition also applies to an issuer’s directors, officers and employees, investment bankers, underwriters, accountants, lawyers and consultants, as well as other persons who have entered into special relationships of confidence with an issuer of securities.
Virtually anyone can become subject to the insider trading prohibition merely by obtaining material non-public information by unlawful means or by lawfully obtaining such information and improperly using it. This is known as misappropriation. If you receive material, non-public information as part of your legitimate business dealings on behalf of the Firm or its clients and you use that information to trade in securities, or if you transmit that information to another person for purposes of trading in securities (so-called “tipping”), you would likely be guilty of insider trading. Insider trading liability may also be derivative. A person who has obtained inside information (a so-called “tippee”) from a person who has breached a duty or has misappropriated information may also be held liable.
Employee Quarterly & Annual Reporting Requirements Employees of the Firm are required to disclose their personal securities holdings on an annual basis and are also required to report any transactions in personal holdings of securities on a quarterly basis whether such securities are public or private.
Reporting Violations Employees that are or become aware of any violations of the foregoing policy are required to promptly report such violations to the Firm’s Chief Compliance Officer.
Pre-Clearance Requirement
Employees may not invest in any public or private security without the prior written approval of the Firm’s Chief Compliance Officer nor may employees trade in any way on any nonpublic information regarding the portfolio holdings of any fund monitored by the Firm.
Employees may not acquire any security in an IPO or private placement without the prior written approval of the Firm’s Chief Compliance Officer.
Employees may also not invest in any public organization that sponsors private equity funds and/or real estate funds (i.e. Blackstone, Fortress) which funds have previously been and/or in the future may be recommended by the Firm without the prior written approval of the Firm’s Chief Compliance Officer.
Additional Restrictions on Trading
In addition to the trading prohibitions set forth above employees are hereinafter expressly prohibited from executing the following trades (regardless of whether the “trade” is a purchase or a sale):2
| 2 | The restrictions (and requirements) herein regarding trades apply not only to actual securities, but also to all related prod ucts, including, but not limited to: options, derivatives and convertible securities. |
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| 1. | Trading in any public or private security “actively tracked”3 in PRIVILEGe® (or known by such employee to be scheduled to be added to PRIVILEGe®) unless a Waiver is obtained in writing which includes both e-mail or via the firm’s online compliance portal (PTCC) from the Firm’s Chief Compliance Officer; |
| 2. | Trading in any public or private security that is held by a portfolio fund with respect to which an employee of Portfolio Advisors sits on the Advisory Board or holds a Board Observer seat. (PRIVILEGEe® identifies which securities are held by which portfolio fund(s)).3 The list identifying the Advisory Board and Board Observer seats currently filled by Portfolio Advisors employees is currently located in Back Office under the Compliance Tab or in other locations as designated by the Firm; unless a Waiver is obtained in writing either through e-mail or via the firm’s online compliance portal (PTCC) from the Firm’s Chief Compliance Officer. |
| 3. | Trading in any public or private security listed in Portfolio Advisors’ Restricted Securities List which is maintained by the Chief Compliance Officer. |
| 4. | Portfolio Advisors may create a white list of securities that employees can trade without pre-clearance. The White List will be maintained by the Chief Compliance Officer. |
Notice of Receipt of Insider Information
Any employee that receives material, non-public insider information with respect to a company, whether relating to a public or private company (such as possibly during the course of an Advisory Board meeting, an Annual Meeting, a General Partner update meeting or otherwise), and such company is not an underlying portfolio company of a fund with respect to which an employee of Portfolio Advisors sits on the Advisory Board or holds a Board Observer seat, is hereinafter required to promptly notify the Chief Compliance Officer of the receipt of such information. Upon the receipt of such notification, the Firm’s Chief Compliance Officer shall promptly update the Firm’s Restricted Securities List accordingly.
Notice of Advisory Board Seats / Board Observer Seats
Employees are required to promptly notify a member of the firm’s legal team if they are added or removed as either an Advisory Board member or a Board Observer of any portfolio fund (or portfolio company). Upon the receipt of such notification, the firm shall promptly update the Firm’s list of Advisory Board Seats accordingly.
Notice of Contractual Trading Restrictions
It is possible that Portfolio Advisors may enter into Confidentiality Agreements or other agreements that contractually prohibit Portfolio Advisors, as well as employees of Portfolio Advisors, from trading in certain securities. Employees are hereinafter required to promptly notify the Firm’s Chief Compliance Officer via email to the extent that any such agreement is entered into. As long as a member of Portfolio Advisors’ Legal Team or a designee thereof is involved with the negotiation and/or execution of the agreement giving rise to the trading restriction, the Legal Team shall take responsibility for maintaining the list of such restrictions. If for any reason, however, the Legal Team is not involved (such as, for example, if an employee is required to sign a confidentiality agreement on site at an annual meeting, etc.) the person responsible for entering into such agreement is responsible for providing such notification. Upon the receipt of such notification, the Firm’s Chief Compliance Officer, or his or her designee, shall promptly update the Firm’s Restricted Securities List as appropriate.
| 3 | As PRIVILEGe® contains stale data on investments in public and private securities stemming from former Portfolio Advisors’ clients’ portfolios, the mere appearance of a security within PRIVILEGe® does not, in and of itself, preclude trading in such security. Trading is only restricted if Portfolio Advisors is actively tracking such security, meaning “information with respect to such security has been entered into PRIVI LEGe® within the prior 6 months (or the data itself covers time within the prior 6 months).” If the data does not fall within the foregoing confines, then Portfolio Advisors is no longer “actively tracking” such security and would not have insider information with respect to such security. |
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Waiver Requests
In the event an employee would like to trade in a public or private security, the employee may request a waiver in order to consummate such a trade via the firm’s online compliance portal known as PTCC or by e-mail directed to the Firm’s Chief Compliance Officer. There is no guarantee that any such waiver will be granted – even if the employee asserts that he or she is not in possession of material non-public information about the security (or the market for the company’s securities). Requests will be considered on a case by case basis. Waivers are valid for 3 days, provided, however, that regardless of a valid waiver, an employee may not trade in such security if he or she gains any non-public information about the security during such period.
Certain Exceptions
Notwithstanding the foregoing prohibitions (and the reporting requirements set forth in the “Employee Quarterly & Annual Reporting Requirements” Section of Portfolio Advisors’ Insider Trading Policy), no Employee is required to request a trading Waiver or submit any report with respect to securities held in a personal account over which the Employee has no direct or indirect influence or control (e.g., a blind trust). For purposes of clarity, in order to take advantage of this exception, the employee shall submit an original, signed letter addressed to the Firm confirming that the employee previously provided the employee’s broker with written instructions that the broker may not take any trading instruction(s) from the employee or discuss any proposed trades with the employee. The employee must further confirm in such letter that the employee is not able to access the account and enter trades on his or her own.
Consequences An employee's failure to comply with the Firm's Insider Trading Policy may subject the employee to Firm-imposed sanctions, including termination of employment for cause, whether or not the employee's failure to comply results in a violation of law. In addition, the sanctions for violations of the Firm’s Insider Trading Policy may include investigations by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, criminal and civil prosecution, disgorgement of any profits realized or losses avoided through use of the insider information, civil penalties of up to $1 million, and incarceration. The Firm is committed to preventing insider trading and to punishing any employee who engages in this practice or who fails to comply with the steps designed to preserve the confidentiality of inside information. These procedures are a vital part of the Firm’s compliance efforts and must be adhered to.
Application So long as you are an employee of the Firm, this Insider Trading Policy applies to you, family members who reside with you, and family members who do not live in your household but whose transactions in securities are directed by you or are subject to your control. As an employee, you are responsible for the transactions of these other persons and therefore you should make them aware of the need to confer with you before they trade in securities.
Firm Assistance If you have a question about this Insider Trading Policy or its application to any proposed transaction you may obtain additional guidance from the Firm’s Chief Compliance Officer. Ultimately, however, the responsibility for adhering to this Insider Trading Policy and avoiding unlawful transactions rests with you.
| D. | DEFINITIONS |
For the purposes of this Personal Securities Transactions Section
| (1) | Access Person means: |
| (i) | All Employees of Portfolio Advisors, LLC or its affiliates or, |
| (ii) | Any other persons: |
| (A) | Who have access to nonpublic information regarding any clients' purchase or sale of securities, or nonpublic information regarding the portfolio holdings of any Reportable Fund, or |
| (B) | Who are involved in making securities recommendations to clients, or who have access to such recommendations that are nonpublic. |
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| (2) | Automatic investment plan means a program in which regular periodic purchases (or withdrawals) are made automatically in (or from) investment accounts in accordance with a predetermined schedule and allocation. An automatic investment plan includes a dividend reinvestment plan. |
| (3) | Beneficial ownership is interpreted in the same manner as it would be under Section 16a-1(a)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in determining whether a person has beneficial ownership of a security for purposes of section 16 and the rules and regulations thereunder. Any report required by this section may contain a statement that the report will not be construed as an admission that the person making the report has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership in the security to which the report relates. |
| (4) | Federal Securities Laws means the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Title V of the Gramm- Leach-Bliley Act, any rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission under any of these statutes, the Bank Secrecy Act as it applies to funds and investment advisers, and any rules adopted thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Department of the Treasury. |
| (5) | Fund means an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940. |
| (6) | Initial public offering means an offering of securities registered under the Securities Act of 1933, the issuer of which, immediately before the registration, was not subject to the reporting requirements of sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
| (7) | Limited offering means an offering that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to section 4(2) or section 4(6) or pursuant to sections 504, 505, or 506of Regulation D. |
| (8) | Purchase or sale of a security includes, among other things, the writing of an option to purchase or sell a security. |
| (9) | Reportable Fund means: |
| (i) | Any Fund for which Portfolio Advisors serves as an investment adviser as defined in section 2(a)(20) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 or |
| (ii) | Any Fund whose investment adviser or principal underwriter controls Portfolio Advisors, is controlled by Portfolio Advisor, or is under common control with Portfolio Advisor. For purposes of this section, control has the same meaning as it does in section 2(a)(9) of the Investment Company Act of 1940. |
| (10) | Reportable Security |
| (i) | means a security as defined in section 202(a)(18) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, which includes but is not limited to |
| (A) | Debt and equity securities; |
| (B) | Options on securities, on indices, and on currencies; |
| (C) | All forms of limited partnership and limited liability company interests, including interests in private investment funds (private equity fund, hedge funds), and interests in investment clubs; and |
| (D) | Foreign unit trusts and foreign mutual funds. |
| (E) | ETFs. |
| (ii) | A Reportable Security does not include: |
| (A) | Direct obligations of the Government of the United States (treasury securities); |
| (B) | Bankers' acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements; |
| (C) | Shares issued by money market funds; |
| (D) | Shares issued by open-end funds other than Reportable Funds; |
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| (E) | Shares issued by unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more open-end funds, none of which are Reportable Funds; and |
| (F) | Interests in 529 college savings plans. |
NON-COMPLIANCE OF CODE OF ETHICS
Portfolio Advisors has an “open door” policy with respect to questions concerning the applicability of this Code or any law, rule, regulation or policy. All PA Professionals may seek guidance from senior management on any issue which may be deemed to be a violation or improper, or which may have the appearance of impropriety.
All PA Professionals are required to report any violations of the Code of Ethics promptly to the Chief Compliance Officer.
Violations of this Code will be taken seriously. Any violation by a PA Professional may result in severe disciplinary action (including termination for cause) against the PA Professional. It shall be the responsibility of each PA Professional to report to Portfolio Advisors any violation of this Code by said PA Professional and any violation of this Code known or believed by said PA Professional to have taken place by another PA Professional. All such information will be kept confidential by Portfolio Advisors to the degree possible. Please refer to PA’s Whistleblower Policy for additional information with respect to Code violations.
BOARD REPORTING
No less frequently than annually, Portfolio Advisors will furnish to the boards of directors of its clients that are investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, a written report that:
| (A) | Describes any issues arising under the Code since the last report to the board of directors, including, but not limited to, information about material violations of the Code and sanctions imposed in response to the material violations; and |
| (B) | Certifies that Portfolio Advisors has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from violating the Code. |
RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS
Portfolio Advisors, at its principal place of business, will maintain records in the manner and to the extent set out below:
| (A) | A copy of each code of ethics for Portfolio Advisors that is in effect, or at any time within the past five years was in effect, will be maintained in an easily accessible place; |
| (B) | A record of any violation of the Code, and of any action taken as a result of the violation, will be maintained in an easily accessible place for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which the violation occurs; |
| (C) | A copy of each report made by an Access Person as required by this Code, including any information provided in lieu of the reports under Standard VI(A)(3)(iii) of this Code, will be maintained for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which the report is made or the information is provided, the first two years in an easily accessible place; |
| (D) | A record of all persons, currently or within the past five years, who are or were required to make reports under Standard VI of this Code, or who are or were responsible for reviewing these reports, will be maintained in an easily accessible place; |
| (E) | A copy of each report required by the Board Reporting section of this Code will be maintained for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which it is made, the first two years in an easily accessible place; and |
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| (F) | A record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the decision, to approve the acquisition by investment personnel of securities in an initial public offering or in a limited offering, will be maintained for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which the approval is granted. |
ANNUAL EMPLOYEE CERTIFICATION
Portfolio Advisors, LLC is required to provide all Access Persons with a copy of this Code of Ethics and any amendments thereto and all Access Persons are required to provide Portfolio Advisors, LLC with a written acknowledgment of their receipt of the code and any amendments thereto.
Therefore, on an annual basis, each Access Person will be required to provide Portfolio Advisors with a written acknowledgment of their receipt of the Code of Ethics and confirm that he or she will act in a manner that is consistent with this Code and in the best interests of Portfolio Advisors and its clients. The written acknowledgment may occur electronically in the PTCC system.
2021 Code of Ethics
Portfolio Advisors, LLC
1. CODE OF ETHICS ACKNOWLEDGMENT
By my signature below, I attest that I have received, read and understand this Code of Ethics and agree to act in a manner that is consistent with this Code and in the best interests of Portfolio Advisors and its clients.
| Print Name | |
| Signature | |
| Date |
The firm will utilize this Acknowledgment or a similar form which may be amended from time to time. Similar electronic versions of this form and acknowledgments, as utilized in the PTCC system will be acceptable.
2021 Code of Ethics
Portfolio Advisors, LLC
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of Joshua B. Deringer, Scott Higbee and Daniel Dwyer, or either of them signing singly, and with full power of substitution, the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution for such attorney-in-fact in such attorney-in-fact’s name, place and stead, to:
1.sign any and all Initial Registration Statements, and any Pre-Effective Amendments and/or Post-Effective Amendments to the Registration Statement of the MVP Private Markets Fund on Form N-2 and any filings made with any state regulatory agency or authority, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any state regulatory agency or authority, as appropriate, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be executed as of this 27th day of October, 2021.
| /s/ Kent Misener | ||
| Signature | ||
| Kent Misener | ||
| Print Name |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of Joshua B. Deringer, Scott Higbee and Daniel Dwyer, or either of them signing singly, and with full power of substitution, the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution for such attorney-in-fact in such attorney-in-fact’s name, place and stead, to:
1.sign any and all Initial Registration Statements, and any Pre-Effective Amendments and/or Post-Effective Amendments to the Registration Statement of the MVP Private Markets Fund on Form N-2 and any filings made with any state regulatory agency or authority, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any state regulatory agency or authority, as appropriate, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be executed as of this 27th day of October, 2021.
| /s/ Taylor Nadauld | ||
| Signature | ||
| Taylor Nadauld | ||
| Print Name |
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